papilionaceous

American  

[puh-pil-ee-uh-ney-shuhs] / pəˌpɪl i əˈneɪ ʃəs /

adjective

Botany.

1. having an irregular corolla shaped somewhat like a butterfly, as the pea and other leguminous plants.

2. belonging to the family Papilionaceae (Fabaceae), that is often included as part of the Leguminosae.

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Etymology

Origin of papilionaceous

1660–70; < Latin pāpiliōn- (stem of pāpiliō ) butterfly + -aceous

Example Sentences

In some cases, as in papilionaceous flowers, the stamens cohere, having been originally separate, but in most cases each bundle is produced by the branching of a single stamen.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

Trees or Shrubs with papilionaceous corolla; as the laburnum.

From Lives of Eminent Zoologists, from Aristotle to Linnæus with Introductory remarks on the Study of Natural History by MacGillivray, William

From the seed-room a special stair-case led into the garden, and this stair-case was entirely grown over with the Chinese honeysuckle, which was now in full bloom with its clusters of blue papilionaceous flowers.

From Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine by Auerbach, Berthold

Orchids, Milkweeds, Kalmia, Iris, and papilionaceous flowers each have their own special contrivances, quite different for each.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

Keel, a projecting ridge on a surface, like the keel of a boat; the two anterior petals of a papilionaceous corolla, 92.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa