spathe
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (1)
- a conspicuous bract surrounding or subtending a spadix or other inflorescenceType of bract
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Spathe noun
Origin: L. spatha, Gr. …: cf. F. spathe. See Spade for digging.
Botany A special involucre formed of one leaf and inclosing a spadix, as in aroid plants and palms. See the Note under Bract, and Illust. of Spadix.
☞ The name is also given to the several-leaved involucre of the iris and other similar plants.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54