corymb

American  

[kawr-imb, -im, kor-] / ˈkɔr ɪmb, -ɪm, ˈkɒr- /

noun

Botany.

1. a form of inflorescence in which the flowers form a flat-topped or convex cluster, the outermost flowers being the first to open.

---

corymb British  

/ ˈkɒrɪmb, -rɪm /

noun

1. an inflorescence in the form of a flat-topped flower cluster with the oldest flowers at the periphery. This type of raceme occurs in the candytuft

---

corymb Scientific  

/ kôr′ĭmb,-ĭm /

1. An indeterminate inflorescence whose outer flowers have longer stalks than the inner flowers, so that together they form a round cluster that is rather flat on top. The outer flowers open before the inner ones. Yarrow and the hawthorn have corymbs.

2. See illustration at inflorescence

---

Other Word Forms

• corymbed adjective
• corymblike adjective
• corymbose adjective
• corymbosely adverb

Etymology

Origin of corymb

1700–10; < Latin corymbus < Greek kórymbos head, top, cluster of fruit or flowers

Example Sentences

Otherwise as Tussilago.—Perennial woolly herbs, with the leaves all from the rootstock, white-woolly beneath, the scape with sheathing scaly bracts, bearing heads of purplish or whitish fragrant flowers, in a corymb.

From Project Gutenberg

It has great corymbs of tiny white blossoms with tight little buff buds squeezing out among the open Roses.

From Project Gutenberg

Asclepias.—A. tuberosa is a handsome fleshy-rooted plant, very impatient of being disturbed, and preferring good peat soil; it grows 1 to 1� ft. high, and bears corymbs of deep yellow and orange flowers in September.

From Project Gutenberg

Corymbose, in corymbs, or in the form of a corymb.

From Project Gutenberg

Rounded corymbs of these flowers on short side twigs cover the tree with a robe of white after the leaves appear.

From Project Gutenberg