Crossword clues for perianth
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Perianth \Per"i*anth\, n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. ? flower: cf. F. p['e]rianthe.] (Bot.)
The leaves of a flower generally, especially when the calyx and corolla are not readily distinguished.
A saclike involucre which incloses the young fruit in most hepatic mosses. See Illust. of Hepatica.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context botany English) The sterile parts of a flower; collectively, the sepals and petals (or tepals). 2 (context botany bryology English) The sterile, tubelike tissue that surrounds the female reproductive structure in a leafy liverwort.
WordNet
n. collective term for the outer parts of a flower consisting of the calyx and corolla and enclosing the stamens and pistils [syn: chlamys, floral envelope, perigone, perigonium]
Wikipedia
thumb|upright=1.4|Diagram showing the parts of a mature flower. In this example the perianth is separated into a calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals)
The perianth (sometimes called perigonium or perigon) is the non-reproductive part of the flower, and structure that forms an envelope surrounding the sexual organs, consisting of the calyx ( sepals) and the corolla ( petals). The term perianth is derived from the Greek περί, peri, meaning around, and άνθος, anthos, meaning flower, while perigonium is derived from gonos, meaning seed, i.e. sexual organs. In the mosses and liverworts (Marchantiophyta), the perianth is the sterile tubelike tissue that surrounds the female reproductive structure (or developing sporophyte).
Usage examples of "perianth".
The leaves below the archegonial group are frequently modified in size and shape, but the chief protection is afforded by a tubular perianth, which corresponds to a coherent whorl of leaves and grows up independently of fertilization.
From this description it will be seen that the flower is a rather small Crocus, but from the soft tints of the perianth, and more pronounced and bright colours of the seed organs, it is one of much beauty.
This crown is connected at the base of the divisions of the perianth, which divisions do not go to the base of the flower, but form what may be called an outer tube.
In the scilla there is no corona, neither a tube, but the petal-like sepals or divisions of the perianth are entire, going to the base of the flower.
The latter is conspicuous from the reflexed condition of the limb of the perianth, and also from its lobes and membranous fringe being a soft lemon-yellow colour.
When I first saw them, I was certain they were trumpet flowers, for they had the characteristic bell-shaped perianth with delicate stamen projecting slightly from the cup.
The petals were midnight-blue with a cream-colored frill, the sepals pure midnight-blue, elongate and twisting, the whole perianth dusted with gold flecks.
The perianth serves also to enclose and protect the sporogonium during its development.
The Yellow Iris is adapted to receive two kinds of insect visitors, the Bumble Bee (Bombus), and the Honey Bee (Apis mellifica), and also the long-tongued Hover-Fly (Rhingia rostrata), which in seeking the honey, push through the outer perianth segments and the style, the anther being between, dusting its back with the pollen.
Seeds are removed when the calyx begins to dry up and the dark shiny perianth (seed coat) can be seen protruding from the drying calyx.
To the popular mind in early days, the fluttering segment of the perianth suggested the waving of a flag, hence the origin of the names 'Yellow Flag,' 'Water Flag' and 'Sword Flag,' and corruptions of the name such as 'Flaggon,' 'Flaggon's' and perhaps 'Fliggers,' the latter stated to be applied to it from the motion of its leaves by the slightest breeze.