– Etymology:
– Term “sepalum” coined by Noël Martin Joseph de Necker in 1790
– Derived from Ancient Greek “σκέπη” (sképē) meaning “covering”
– Sepals collectively called the calyx (plural: calyces)
– Word “calyx” adopted from Latin, not to be confused with “calix” meaning cup or goblet
– Latin “calyx” derived from Greek “κάλυξ” (kalyx) meaning bud, calyx, husk
– Description:
– Term “tepal” used when perianth parts are hard to distinguish
– Tepals referred to as petaloid when resembling petals
– Flower merosity indicates plant classification
– Sepals may be free (polysepalous) or fused together (gamosepalous)
– Sepals’ development and form vary among flowering plants
– Morphology:
– Sepals and petals are modified leaves
– Calyx and corolla are outer sterile whorls forming the perianth
– In some plants like Aristolochia, calyx is primary whorl with large sizes
– Function:
– Sepals can perform photosynthesis like ordinary leaves
– Sepals have lower stomatal density, limiting gas exchange compared to leaves
– Calyx withers after flowering in most plants
– Some plants retain thorny calyx for protection
– Calyx can grow into an accessory fruit in some species
– See also:
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sepals
– Information on “petal” from Oxford Languages
– Definition of “sepal” from CollinsDictionary.com
– Reference to “The Kew Plant Glossary” by Henk Beentje
– Various sources and references on botany and plant morphology
This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. (February 2021) |
A sepal (/ˈsɛpəl, ˈsiːpəl/) is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom.
