Involucre

[invәlu:kә]

Definition

(noun.) a highly conspicuous bract or bract pair or ring of bracts at the base of an inflorescence.

Edited by Kitty--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) A whorl or set of bracts around a flower, umbel, or head.

(n.) A continuous marginal covering of sporangia, in certain ferns, as in the common brake, or the cup-shaped processes of the filmy ferns.

(n.) The peridium or volva of certain fungi. Called also involucrum.

Editor: Nat

Definition

n. (bot.) a group of bracts in the form of a whorl around an expanded flower or umbel—also Involū′crum.—ns. Invol′ucel Involucel′lum a secondary involucre.—adjs. In′volucral Involū′crate having an involucre.—n. Involū′cret.

Inputed by Dennis