involucre

American  

[in-vuh-loo-ker] / ˈɪn vəˌlu kər /

noun

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

2. a covering, especially a membranous one.

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involucre British  

/ ˈɪnvəˌluːkə, ˌɪnvəˈluːkrəm /

noun

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

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involucre Scientific  

/ ĭn′-və-lo̅o̅′kər /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• involucral adjective
• involucrate adjective

Etymology

Origin of involucre

1570–80; < Middle French < Latin involūcrum involucrum

Example Sentences

Style-tips truncate or nearly so; outer involucre small and short; rays rose-color or yellow with brown base; pappus an obscure border or none.

From Project Gutenberg

The involucre or cup in which the acorn is fixed.

From 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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

The variety palustre, which affects boggy situations, and flowers in late summer and autumn, has nearly entire leaves, and the outer bracts of its involucre are erect.

From Project Gutenberg