spathe
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈspeɪθ/
- Specialized
:
bráctea
- The vibrant spathe of the anthurium plant draws attention with its glossy, heart-shaped leaves.
- a white spathe
- a green spathe
Examples
-
The protective spathe sheet was removed, and the inflorescence strands were separated.
Academic text (2014) -
Often, the flowers emerge, but the spathe remains so tightly wrapped around the spadix that it's not possible to remove or introduce pollen without destroying the flower.
Blog text (15) -
When I mentioned "flower" above, I was actually thinking about this spathe.
Academic text (2010) -
The pollination was conducted on a well sunny day after two days of spathe opening.
Academic text (2014) -
Six female spathes were randomly selected on each tree for recording parameters.
Academic text (2014) -
The pollen is shed within the spathe, and it may be carried to other plants through insects (bees or flies).
Academic text (2010) -
I might have a lot of berries developing right now from Florida, which has large, heart-shaped, orange spathes.
Blog text (15) -
The six spathes on the selected Dhakki trees were pollinated at one-hour intervals from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Academic text (2014) -
Unlike the florist's Anthurium, which has a heart-shaped red spathe and a white spadix at its center, monkeytail has a green spathe with a purple spadix.
Academic text (1995) -
Each spathe protects the delicate flowers of the plant until they are ready to bloom.
Compounds
A common houseplant with a large white or green leaf that surrounds a small flower
How Showy
Surface Forms
Etymology
Spathe comes from the Greek word spathē, meaning 'broad blade' or 'palm leaf', a flat leaf that wraps a flower. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a kitchen spatula, which comes from the same idea of a flat, wide shape, because a spathe is the wide leaf that surrounds and protects a flower cluster.