anthesis

American  

[an-thee-sis] / ænˈθi sɪs /

noun

Botany.

PLURAL

antheses

1. the period or act of expansion in flowers, especially the maturing of the stamens.

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anthesis British  

/ ænˈθiːsɪs /

noun

1. the time when a flower becomes sexually functional

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anthesis Scientific  

/ ăn-thē′sĭs /

1. The period during which a flower is fully open and functional.

2. Also called efflorescence

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Etymology

Origin of anthesis

1825–35; < New Latin < Greek ánthēsis bloom, equivalent to anthē- (verbid stem of antheîn to bloom) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Quinoa flowers were marked at anthesis, and seeds were sampled at 12, 16, 20 and 24 days after anthesis.

From Nature

Glammers are the ugly anthesis of the old state park ethos of down scale friendliness and simple tastes.

From New York Times

The tall, whippet-slender Walter is the anthesis of her recent on-screen characters — sweet and funny, with a kind word for everyone.

From Los Angeles Times

The genus Eucalyptus is named for its unusual floral structure derived from the Greek eu-, well, and kaluptos, covered, which refers to the operculum that covers the floral buds before anthesis.

From Nature

Panicle branched, the clusters open in anthesis; glumes not winged on the back.

From Project Gutenberg