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apetalous

apetalous

9.9
Having flowers with no petals
  • adjective
  • /ˌeɪpəˈtæləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sin pétalos
  • Certain wind-pollinated plants tend to have apetalous flowers since petals are unnecessary for attracting pollinators.

Examples

  • Some species of willow produce apetalous flowers that lack the showy petals found in other plants.

  • The botanist noted that the rare plant had apetalous blooms, distinguishing it from related species.

  • Look at that apetalous plant!

  • What an apetalous flower!

  • Certain wind-pollinated plants tend to have apetalous flowers since petals are unnecessary for attracting pollinators.

  • The botanist noted that the rare plant had apetalous blooms, distinguishing it from related species.

  • Some species of willow produce apetalous flowers that lack the showy petals found in other plants.

Synonyms

petalless
vsapetalous
8.0

Having no petals

is identical in meaning but is a more technical form

Antonyms

9.9

A flower that has petals

Compounds

apetalous flower
  • Specialized
9.8

A flower with no petals

How Petalled

petaled
  • US
3.0
apetalous
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

apetalous positive

Morphology

apetalous = petalous (semi-transparent) = a + petal + ous

The meaning follows the privative pattern 'without petals', but the prefix 'a-' and the rare base 'petalous' are not highly accessible to average learners.

Etymology

Apetalous starts with a- meaning 'not' and uses petal meaning 'leaf of a flower'. So it means 'without petals' and describes flowers that have no showy petals, often because the wind, not insects, carries their pollen.