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Glite Dictionary
salverform

salverform

9.9
A flower with a long thin tube and flat petals that spread at the top
  • adjective
  • /ˈsæl.vər.fɔrm/
  • Specialized
: salveriforme
  • The periwinkle has a salverform corolla, with petals that spread out flat at the top of a narrow tube.

Examples

  • Botanists often describe the phlox flower as salverform due to its distinctive shape.

  • The salverform petals of the flower attract many bees.

  • A classic example of a salverform blossom is found in the genus Primula.

  • Are these flowers salverform or tubular?

  • A classic example of a salverform blossom is found in the genus Primula.

  • Botanists often describe the phlox flower as salverform due to its distinctive shape.

  • The periwinkle has a salverform corolla, with petals that spread out flat at the top of a narrow tube.

Surface Forms

salverform positive

Morphology

salverform = salver (semi-transparent) = salver + form

The adjective literally means 'in the shape of a salver' which is regular, but the base 'salver' is a relatively rare/technical term so the compound is not immediately obvious to most learners.

Etymology

Salverform comes from salver ('tray') and -form ('shape'), the same -form you see in uniform. So a salverform flower has a narrow tube with petals spread flat like a small tray, which explains the name.