involucre

[in-vuh-loo-ker]

noun

1. Botany.,  a collection or rosette of bracts subtending a flower cluster, umbel, or the like.

2. a covering, especially a membranous one.

involucre

/ ˈɪnvəˌluːkə, ˌɪnvəˈluːkrəm /

noun

1. a ring of bracts at the base of an inflorescence in such plants as the composites

involucre

1. A series of bracts beneath or around a flower or flower cluster. The cupule, the cuplike structure holding an oak acorn, is a modified, woody involucre.

Other Word Forms

• involucral adjective
• involucrate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of involucre¹

1570–80; < Middle French < Latin involūcrum involucrum

Word History and Origins

Origin of involucre¹

C16 (in the sense: envelope): from New Latin involucrum, from Latin: wrapper, from involvere to wrap; see _involve

Example Sentences

Empty glumes side by side in front of the spikelets, 6 in number, forming a kind of involucre, slender and awn-pointed or bristle-form.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Composed of several florets within a common involucre, as in the daisy; or of several carpels formed from one flower, as in the raspberry.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Leeches are oviparous, and their ova are discharged in one involucre near the surface and margin of pools, and are hatched by the heat of the sun.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Subtended, supported or surrounded; as a pedicel by a bract, or a flower-cluster by an involucre.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

What is known as the “hen-and-chicken” daisy has the main head surrounded by a brood of sometimes as many as ten or twelve small heads, formed in the axils of the scales of the involucre.

Read more on Project Gutenberg