umbel

[ uhm-buhl ]

/ ˈʌm bəl /

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noun Botany.

an inflorescence in which a number of flower stalks or pedicels, nearly equal in length, spread from a common center.

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Origin of umbel

1590–1600; <Latin umbella a sunshade, parasol, derivative of umbra shadow, shade; for formation see castellum

Words nearby umbel

um, umami, Umar, Umar Tal, Umayyad, umbel, umbellate, umbellet, umbelliferous, umbellule, umber

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use umbel in a sentence

Oxlip, oks′lip, n. a species of primrose, having its flowers in an umbel on a stalk like the cowslip.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various
The maritime variety differs from this in having fleshy leaves, and the umbel convex above when in fruit.
The Sea Shore|William S. Furneaux
The flowers are sessile, in little rounded heads; the whole inflorescence forming an irregular umbel or a loose panicle.
Field and Woodland Plants|William S. Furneaux
The middle flowers of each secondary umbel are perfect and almost sessile, but the outer ones are stalked and staminate.
Field and Woodland Plants|William S. Furneaux

At the tip of each twig is formed a cluster of yellowish-green flowers, arranged in a short raceme or in an umbel.
Field and Woodland Plants|William S. Furneaux

British Dictionary definitions for umbel

umbel

/ (ˈʌmbəl) /

noun

an inflorescence, characteristic of umbelliferous plants, in which the flowers arise from the same point in the main stem and have stalks of the same length, to give a cluster with the youngest flowers at the centre

Derived forms of umbel

umbellate (ˈʌmbɪlɪt, -ˌleɪt), umbellar (ʌmˈbɛlə) or umbellated, adjectiveumbellately, adverb

Word Origin for umbel

C16: from Latin umbella a sunshade, from umbra shade

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for umbel

umbel

[ ŭm′bəl ]

A flat or rounded indeterminate inflorescence in which the individual flower stalks (called pedicels) arise from about the same point on the stem at the tip of the peduncle. The geranium, milkweed, and onion have umbels. Umbels usually show centripetal inflorescence, with the lower or outer flowers blooming first.