-petalouscomb. form

Etymology: < post-classical Latin petalum petal n. + -ous suffix, after post-classical Latin and scientific Latin -petalus (in e.g. monopetalus monopetalous adj.). Compare French -pétale (in e.g. apétale : see apetalous adj.).Apparently earliest in polypetalous adj., monopetalous adj., and pentapetalous adj. at penta- comb. form 1 in the late 17th cent., as adaptations of post-classical Latin adjectives; other early formations are apetalous adj., dipetalous adj., hexapetalous adj. at hexa- comb. form , tetrapetalous adj. Formations within English become common in the 19th cent. Usually combined with first elements ultimately of Greek origin (although see bipetalous adj. at bi- comb. form 1a, intrapetalous adj., oppositipetalous adj. at oppositi- comb. form , unipetalous adj.).