spadix

[ spey-diks ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural spa·di·ces [spey-, dahy, -seez, spey, -d, uh, -seez].

1. an inflorescence consisting of a spike with a fleshy or thickened axis, usually enclosed in a spathe.

spadix

/ ˈspeɪdɪks /

noun

1. a racemose inflorescence having many small sessile flowers borne on a fleshy stem, the whole usually being surrounded by a spathe: typical of aroid plants

spadix

/ spā′dĭks /

, Plural spadices spā′dĭ-sēz′

1. A fleshy spike of minute flowers, usually enclosed within a spathe, as in the arums.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spadix¹

1750–60; < Latin spādīx a broken palm branch and its fruit < Greek spā́dīx a torn-off palm bough, chestnut brown; akin to spân to tear off

Word History and Origins

Origin of spadix¹

C18: from Latin: pulled-off branch of a palm, with its fruit, from Greek: torn-off frond; related to Greek span to pull off

Example Sentences

Its compound flower is composed of a hollow, tall spadix with small flowers and a spathe, with one big, furrowed petal that is green on the outside and deep burgundy red on the inside.

From Seattle Times

It features a tall, fleshy column called a spadix and a frilly outer covering called a spathe.

From Los Angeles Times

The huge maroon spathe and spadix were impressive in more ways than one — visitors spent most of the day looking for what surely was a dead body in the border.

From Seattle Times

We may look for a Jack-in-the-Pulpit later today, hoping to find the purple and green leaf curled around the tiny white spadix, nestled there like a prayer.

From New York Times

In another of her arrangements, a mass of tissue-petaled ivory peonies is disrupted by an alabaster anthurium, its spadix jutting up from the flower’s platelike surface.

From New York Times