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Bending gradually toward the axis or center, as branches or petals.

l bud going on to grow and sometimes continuing the stem indefinitely; -- called also acropetal, botryose, centripetal, and indefinite inflorescence. Gray. -- Indeterminate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of an infinite number of solutions, or one in which there are fewer imposed conditions than there are unkn…

Having induplicate sepals or petals in æstivation.

Bent or turned abruptly inwards, or toward the axis, as the petals of a flower.

species of plants. Milne. Centrifugal inflorescence, determinate inflorescence. -- Centripetal inflorescence, indeterminate inflorescence. See under Determinate, and Indeterminate.

Rolled inward from the edges; -- said of leaves in vernation, or of the petals of flowers in æstivation. Gray.

, and Gray.] (Bot.) A genus of twining plants with showy monopetalous flowers, including the morning-glory, the sweet potato, and the cypress vine.

Having exactly as many stamens as petals.

The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and inclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina. See Carina.

The lower or apparently anterior petal of an orchidaceous flower, often of a very curious shape.

Having the appearance of being labiate; -- said of certain polypetalous corollas.

, jagged, irregular pieces or divisions which form a sort of fringe on the borders of the petals of some flowers.

a thin plate or scale of anything, as a thin scale growing from the petals of certain flowers; or one of the thin plates or scales of which certain shells are composed.

The blade of a leaf; the broad, expanded portion of a petal or sepal of a flower. Gray.

rkspur of the gardens is D. Consolida. The flower of the bee larkspur (D. elatum) has two petals bearded with yellow hairs, and looks not unlike a bee.

ld bees of the genus Megachile, which cut rounded pieces from the edges of leaves, or the petals of flowers, to be used in the construction of their nests, which are made in holes and crevices, or in a leaf rolled up for the purpose. Among the common American species are M. brevis and M. centuncularis. Called also rose…

e genus Zephyranthes (Z. Atamasco), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily. Gray. -- Blackberry lily (Bot.), the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense like a blackberry. -- Bourbon lily (Bot.), Lilium candidum. See Illust. -- Butter…

A South European plant of the genus Leontice (L. leontopetalum), the tuberous roots of which contain so much alkali that they are sometimes used as a substitute for soap.

The odd and peculiar petal in the Orchis family. See Orchidaceous.

A metallic element of the alkaline group, occurring in several minerals, as petalite, spodumene, lepidolite, triphylite, etc., and otherwise widely disseminated, though in small quantities.