peloria

[ puh-lawr-ee-uh, -lohr- ]

noun

, Botany.

1. regularity of structure occurring abnormally in flowers normally irregular.

peloria

/ -ˈlɒ-; pɛˈlɔːrɪə; pɛˈlɔːrɪk /

noun

1. the abnormal production of actinomorphic flowers in a plant of a species that usually produces zygomorphic flowers

Derived Forms

• peloric, adjective

Other Words From

• pe·lor·ic [p, uh, -, lawr, -ik, -, lor, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peloria¹

1855–60; < New Latin < Greek pélōr ( os ) monstrous ( pélōr monster + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of peloria¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek pelōros, from pelōr monster

Example Sentences

He named the plant Peloria, after the Greek word for 'monster'.

From Nature

Peloria, pē-lō′ri-a, n. the appearance of regularity in flowers normally irregular—also Pel′orism.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg

Peloria, an abnormal return to regularity and symmetry in an irregular flower; commonest in Snapdragon.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr. Masters designates the cases first alluded to as regular peloria; and others, in which all the corresponding parts assume a similar form of irregularity, as when all the petals in a Linaria become spurred, as irregular peloria.

From Project Gutenberg

On the doctrine that peloria is simply the result of an arrest of development, it is difficult to understand how an organ arrested at a very early period of growth should acquire its full functional perfection;—how a petal, supposed to be thus arrested, should acquire its brilliant colours, and serve as an envelope to the flower, or a stamen produce efficient pollen; yet this occurs with many peloric flowers.

From Project Gutenberg