involucre
/ˈɪnvəl(j)uːkə
/noun
1 Anatomy A membranous envelope.
2 Botany A whorl or rosette of bracts surrounding an inflorescence (especially a capitulum) or at the base of an umbel.The cupules are simple involucres of bracts which are spirally arranged (according to a Fibonacci pattern) on the floral axis preceding the flower....
- Basal leaves and flowers initiate from a tuberous rhizome and three green cauline leaves arranged in a whorl form an involucre around the developing flower.
- The Hermaphrodite cyathium shows the characteristics measured (length and width of the cyathium involucre and the nectary).
Origin
Late 16th century: from French, or from Latin involucrum, from involvere 'roll in, envelop' (see involve).