spicate

[ spahy-keyt ]

adjective

, Botany.

1. having spikes, as a plant.
2. arranged in spikes, as flowers.
3. in the form of a spike, as in inflorescence.

spicate

/ ˈspaɪkeɪt /

adjective

1. botany having, arranged in, or relating to spikes

   a spicate inflorescence

Word History and Origins

Origin of spicate¹

1660–70; < Latin spīcātus, equivalent to spīc ( a ) spica + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of spicate¹

C17: from Latin spīcātus having spikes, from spīca a point

Example Sentences

Aquatic or marsh herbs; flowers perfect or polygamo-diœcious, small, axillary or spicate; petals often none.

From Project Gutenberg

Spiraea.—Vigorous growing plants of great beauty, preferring good, deep, rather moist soil; the flowers small but very abundant, in large corymbose or spicate panicles.

From Project Gutenberg

The yellow flowers are produced on spicate racemes, while the leaves are alternate, smooth and spear-shaped.

From Project Gutenberg

The spikelets are all unisexual, spicate, the male and female spikelets are dissimilar, and are on the same or on different spikes.

From Project Gutenberg

Under this head, too, may be included those cases wherein an ordinarily spicate inflorescence becomes paniculate owing to the branching of the axis and the formation of an unwonted number of secondary buds.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• barbed