The whorl of petals in a flower, typically the most conspicuous and colorful part that attracts pollinators. It lies inside the calyx and outside the reproductive organs.
From Latin 'corolla,' a diminutive of 'corona' meaning 'little crown.' The term reflects how the ring of petals crowns the flower like a decorative headpiece, first used botanically in the 18th century.
The corolla is basically the flower's advertisement billboard - it's evolved into every shape, color, and pattern imaginable just to catch the eye of the right pollinator, from bee landing strips to hummingbird highways!
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