involucel Bot.
(ɪnˈvɒljuːsɛl)
Formerly -ell.
[ad. mod.L. involūcellum, (also in Eng. use), dim. of involucrum. Cf. F. involucelle (Littré).]
A whorl of bracts surrounding one of the divisions in an inflorescence; a partial or secondary involucre.
(α) in L. form involucellum.
| 1765 J. Lee Introd. Bot. Gloss., Involucellum, a partial Involucrum. 1776–96 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 449 Umbel with 5 spokes..involucella egg-shaped. 1830 Lindley Nat. Syst. Bot. 76 Apetalous dicotyledons, with..a calycine involucellum to the female or hermaphrodite flowers. |
(β) In Eng. form involucel.
| 1804 Med. Jrnl. XII. 368 Involucell, reaching half way round, three-leaved, bent downwards. 1806 J. Galpine Brit. Bot. 145 Chærophyllum..Involucells reflexed, concave. 1870 Hooker Stud. Flora 183 Scabiosa..calyx-tube contracted at the top, included in the tubular involucel. |