umbel

[ uhm-buhl ]

nounBotany.
  1. an inflorescence in which a number of flower stalks or pedicels, nearly equal in length, spread from a common center.

Origin of umbel

1
1590–1600; <Latin umbella a sunshade, parasol, derivative of umbra shadow, shade; for formation see castellum

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British Dictionary definitions for umbel

umbel

/ (ˈʌmbəl) /


noun
  1. an inflorescence, characteristic of umbelliferous plants, in which the flowers arise from the same point in the main stem and have stalks of the same length, to give a cluster with the youngest flowers at the centre

Origin of umbel

1
C16: from Latin umbella a sunshade, from umbra shade

Derived forms of umbel

  • umbellate (ˈʌmbɪlɪt, -ˌleɪt), umbellar (ʌmˈbɛlə) or umbellated, adjective
  • umbellately, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for umbel

umbel

[ ŭmbəl ]


  1. A flat or rounded indeterminate inflorescence in which the individual flower stalks (called pedicels) arise from about the same point on the stem at the tip of the peduncle. The geranium, milkweed, and onion have umbels. Umbels usually show centripetal inflorescence, with the lower or outer flowers blooming first.

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