verticil

[ vur-tuh-sil ]

noun

, Botany, Zoology.

1. a whorl or circle, as of leaves or hairs, arranged around a point on an axis.

verticil

/ ˈvɜːtɪˌsɪl /

noun

1. biology a circular arrangement of parts about an axis, esp leaves around a stem

Word History and Origins

Origin of verticil¹

1695–1705; < Latin verticillus spindle whorl, equivalent to vertic- (stem of vertex ) vertex + -illus diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of verticil¹

C18: from Latin verticillus whorl (of a spindle), from vertex

Example Sentences

Each spine between the two shells has a verticil of three forked lateral branches (fig. 9a).

From Project Gutenberg

At the middle, or in the distal half, each spine bears a verticil of three strong, irregularly formed ramified branches.

From Project Gutenberg

From each spine arise ten to twelve verticils of lateral branches; each verticil composed of three forked branches.

From Project Gutenberg

The terminal branches form either a similar verticil, or a bunch or corona, composed of numerous radial secondary spines.

From Project Gutenberg

Verticil: one of the whorls of long fine sensitive hair arranged symmetrically on the joints of the antennae in certain Diptera.

From Project Gutenberg