cyathium

[ sahy-ath-ee-uhm ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural cy·ath·i·a [sahy-, ath, -ee-, uh].

1. an inflorescence consisting of a cup-shaped involucre enclosing an apetalous, pistillate flower surrounded by several staminate flowers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyathium¹

< New Latin < Greek kyáthion, diminutive of kýathos ladle

Example Sentences

The cyathium is a characteristic feature of the genus, and consists of a number of male flowers, each reduced to a single stamen, surrounding a central female flower which consists only of a stalked pistil; the group of flowers is enveloped in a cup formed by the union of four or five bracts, the upper part of which bears thick, conspicuous, gland-like structures, which in exotic species are often brilliantly coloured, giving the cyathium the appearance of a single flower.

From Project Gutenberg

A partial inflorescence, cyathium, bearing the petaloid glands.

From Project Gutenberg

A cyathium without petaloid glandular appendages.

From Project Gutenberg

Diagram of the inflorescence of Euphorbia, illustrating the dichasial cymose arrangement of the ultimate branches. b, Bract subtending the central terminal cyathium I. a′b′, Bracteoles of the first order subtending the secondary cyathia II. a″b″, Bracteoles of the second order subtending the tertiary cyathia III.

From Project Gutenberg

In the central cyathium I. are shown the details of the arrangement of the male flowers in monochasial cymes, m, and the central female flower, f.

From Project Gutenberg