Cephalanthium

/ˌsɛfəˈlænθiəm/ noun

Definition

A botanical term referring to a head-like cluster or arrangement of flower parts.

Etymology

From Greek 'kephalē' (head) + 'anthos' (flower) + '-ium' (Latin neuter noun suffix). The term literally means 'head flower' and was created to describe how some plants arrange their blooms densely together.

Kelly Says

Plants like sunflowers and dandelions don't have one giant flower—what looks like a single bloom is actually hundreds of tiny flowers packed into a 'head' shape, which is exactly what botanists call a cephalanthium!

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