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  1. umbel love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A flat-topped or rounded flower cluster in which the individual flower stalks arise from about the same point, as in the geranium, milkweed, onion, and chive.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. In the spicular elements of the hexactinellid sponges, a straight shaft or rhabd with rays at one end grouped together in the form of umbel.
  2. n. An inflorescence consisting of a number of flower-stalks or pedicels, nearly equal in length, spreading from a common center, their summits forming a level, convex, or even globose surface, more rarely a concave one, as in the carrot. See cuts under inflorescence, Thapsia, and Œnanthe.
  3. n. In zoology, an umbelliform tuft, cluster, or group of parts, as of polypites borne upon a polypidom. See cut under Umbellularia.

Wiktionary

  1. n. botany A flat-topped or rounded flower-cluster (= inflorescence) in which the individual flower stalks arise from the same point, the youngest flowers being at the centre.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which the flower stalks radiate from a common point, as in the carrot and milkweed. It is simple or compound; in the latter case, each peduncle bears another little umbel, called umbellet, or umbellule.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. flat-topped or rounded inflorescence characteristic of the family Umbelliferae in which the individual flower stalks arise from about the same point; youngest flowers are at the center

Etymologies

  1. From Latin umbella ("umbrella") (Wiktionary)
  2. New Latin umbella, from Latin, parasol, diminutive of umbra, shadow. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “At the top is the "seed" pod, more properly called the umbel, which contains the flowers and bulbils.”

    Garlic Scapes

  • “… its not classified as umbel-sc: Bird in the linked database”

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  • “The funniest bit, though, is the wide-eyed wonder with which the word 'umbel' is introduced and discussed.”

    Garden Rant

  • “In sun The white umbel Seseli libanotus with upright Thalictrum 'Elin' with grasses to add movement.”

    The Guardian: Gardens: Planting in drifts

  • “Another good association could bethe white umbel Seseli libanotus with the purple-tinted foliage of theupright Thalictrum 'Elin'.”

    The Guardian: Gardens: Planting in drifts

  • “Right now they have sent up a green umbel that is sturdy but relaxed at the same time.”

    The Guardian: Jolly brollies

  • “Some garlic varieties give improved yields if the scape is cut before umbel development.”

    Garlic Scapes

  • “The umbel pod is covered in by the spathe, which often has a pronounced beak.”

    Garlic Scapes

  • “His beard had grown in to the spiky stage and his hair stood up in a stiff umbel, uncut; no Roman wore a beard or long hair save after a death or some other huge calamity.”

    Simon & Schuster: Antony and Cleopatra

  • “Yes, she is the queen of umbel family with greenish-yellow flowers and aromatic and curled leaves.”

    Weekend Herb Blogging #5: Curly Parsley

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Lists

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Comments

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  • chained_bear "A crude picture of a plant had been drawn on the front in brownish ink; something with an upright stalk and what looked like umbels."
    —Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross (NY: Bantam Dell, 2001), 144 Jan 18, 2010

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‘umbel’ has been looked up 1539 times, loved by 2 people, added to 16 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 9.