tepal

[ tee-puhl, tep-uhl ]

noun

, Botany.

1. one of the divisions of a flower perianth, especially one that is not clearly differentiated into petals and sepals, as in lilies and tulips.

tepal

/ ˈtiːpəl; ˈtɛpəl /

noun

1. any of the subdivisions of a perianth that is not clearly differentiated into calyx and corolla

tepal

/ tē′pəl,tĕp′əl /

1. A division of the perianth of a flower in which the sepals and petals are indistinguishable, as in tulips and lilies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tepal¹

< French tépale (1827), alteration of pétale petal, on the model of sépale sepal; coined by Augustin-Pierre de Candolle (1778–1841), Swiss botanist

Word History and Origins

Origin of tepal¹

C20: from French tépale changed (on analogy with sépale sepal) from pétale petal

Example Sentences

The Blacks have a quaint story about its origin, and I will tell it to you as old Tepal, a black chief, told it to me.

From Project Gutenberg