sepal

From French sépale, from New Latin sepalum.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛp(ə)l/, /ˈsiːp(ə)l/

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• Rhymes: -iːpəl

sepal (plural sepals)

1. (botany) One of the component parts of the calyx, particularly when such components are not fused into a single structure.
   • 1836, The Family Magazine, Or Monthly Abstract of General Knowledge, Volume III, Redfield & Lindsay, page 367,

     When the sepals are distinct, or separate from each other, the calyx is said to be polysepalous.

   • 2009, Shubhrata R. Mishra, Understanding Plant Reproduction, Discovery Publishing House, page 164:

     The sepal and the petal are essentially leaf-like in form and anatomy but generally simpler in detailed structure than a foliage leaf.

   • 2017, Taylor A. Steeves, Vipen K. Sawhney, Essentials of Developmental Plant Anatomy, Oxford University Press, page 29:

     In tomato, for example, the first sepal primordium is formed as an outgrowth at the periphery of the apex and the subsequent sepal primordia are initiated in a helical fashion at an angle of approximately 137° from the previous one.

• polysepalous
• sepalous

• petal
• sepalar
• tepal

• ALSEP, ELSPA, Lapes, Leaps, Pales, Peals, Slape, e-pals, lapse, leaps, lepas, pales, peals, pleas, salep, spale

sepal

1. adessive singular of sepp