A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Sepal, a division of a calyx; sepala (pl.n.II) “the divisions of the calyx” (Lindley); the collective term for all of the sepals of a flower is the calyx, q.v.; “Necker’s convenient term in universal use for each segment composing a calyx; > Gk. skepE, a covering” (Jackson); “a division of a calyx” (Fernald 1950): sepalum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. sepalo, nom. & acc. pl. sepala, dat. & abl. pl. sepalis [“NL > sepa (modification of Gk. skepas, skepE, ‘covering”) + -lum (as in petalum)” (WIII)];

Sepala isomera (adj.A), with equal parts, i.e. with the number of parts in one floral whorl the same as in another whorl; sepala dupla (adj.A), with the sepals double in number as compared, e.g. to the petals or other organs.

- sepalum superius 7-7.5 mm longum, sepalum inferius 7 mm longum, upper sepal 7-7.5 mm long, lower sepal 7 mm long.

- sepalum summum ovatum, uppermost sepal ovate.

- calcar sepalo suo aequilongum vel paulo longius, spur its own sepal equalling or a little longer than.

- sepala lateralia ovata, inferiora et supera lanceolata, lateral sepals ovate, lower sepals and upper sepals lanceolate.

- sepala patentia 2 exteriora trinervia, 2 interiora tantum nervo

centrali prominente, sepals spreading, 2 outer three-nerved, 2

interior with only the central nerve prominent.

- sepala dextrorsum tengentia (i.e. sinistrorsum convoluta), libera vel

ad 1/3 longitudinis coalita, sepals overlapping to the right (i.e.

twisted to the left), free or to 1/3 of the length joined.

- sepalis a bracteolis omnino obtectis, with sepals by the bracteoles

wholly covered.

- sepalis ovatis rotundatis viridibus, with sepals ovate rounded green;

cf. calyx (Stearn).

- fructus sepalis concrescentibus reliquias stigmatis gerentibus subtentus,

fruit subtended by the grown-together sepals bearing the remnants of the

stigma.

- [Ranunculaceae] Sepala 3-[infinity] (saepius 5), hypogyna, libera, vulgo petaloidea et decidua, imbricata v. (in Clematideis) valvata (B&H), the sepals 3-numerous (more often 5), hypogynous [i.e. growing from the base of the ovary], free [i.e. not fused], commonly resembling a petal and deciduous, imbricate or (in Clematis species) valvate [i.e. in segments].

- stamina numero sepala vix excedunt, v. pauciora sunt; sepalis petalisque isomera v. dupla et his alterna (B&H), the stamens hardly exceed the sepals in number, or are fewer; with the parts equal [in number] with the sepals and petals or double and alternate with them.

- [Ranunculaceae] petala sepalorum numero aequalia dupla triplave (DeCandolle) the petals equal to the number of the sepals, double or triple.

- sepala 4-8 colorata. Petala 0 aut sepalis breviora (DeCandolle), the sepals 4-8, colored. The petals none or shorter than the sepals [=abl.pl.].

- sepala acuta margine pubescentia, staminibus duplo fere longiora (DeCandolle), sepals acute, pubescent on the margin, almost two times longer than the stamens.

- sepala, tenera, callo minimo terminata (DeCandolle), the sepals tender, terminated by a tiny [horny] thickening.

connivens,-entis (part.B): connivent, “having a gradually inward direction, as many petals; converging” (Lindley): many sepals are described as connivent;

- sepalis basi conniventibus apice patentireflexis (DeCandolle), sepals connivent at the base, at the apex spreading-reflexed.

Phyllum,-i (s.n.II), q.v., abl. sg. phyllo: “(obsol.) a sepal” (Lindley).

gamosepalus,-a,-um (adj.A), q.v.: gamosepalous, with sepals united from the base upwards.

polysepalus,-a,-um (adj.A), q.v.: polysepalous, with sepals distinct or unfused.

sepalatus,-a,-um (adj.A): provided with sepals.

sepaloideus,-a,-um (adj.A): resembling or having the nature of a sepal; = sepalinus,-a,-um (adj.A).

Sepalulum,-i (s.n.II), abl.sg. sepalulo: “Necker’s diminutive for a small sepal” (Jackson).

“In their direction, the sepals are either erect (turned upwards); cormivent (turned inwards); divergent or patulous (when spreading outwards) ; or reflexed, (when their extremities are turned downwards)” (Bentley).

“The sepals may be either distinct from each other, ...; or more or less united into one body. In the former case, the calyx is usually termed polysepalons, polyphyllous, or dialysepalous; in the latter it is commonly called monosepalous. But this latter term is incorrect, as it indicates literally one sepal; and hence many botanists use instead the more correct term of gamosepalous calyx, which simply implies that the sepals are united.” (Bentley).

“All calyces that are adherent to the ovary, or which support the corolla or stamens, or which accompany a gamopetalous corolla, are gamosepalous, and of course persistent. It is very rare that a calyx which is not gamosepalous is persistent (S.Gray).