peloria
Definitions
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- noun In botany, the appearance of regularity of structure in the flowers of plants which normally bear irregular flowers.
Examples
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This was considered so marvellous a circumstance that the term peloria, from the Greek [Greek: pelĂ´r], a prodigy, was applied to it.
Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants
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Possibly these several differences may be connected with the different flow of nutriment towards the central and external flowers: we know, at least, that with irregular flowers, those nearest to the axis are most subject to peloria, that is to become abnormally symmetrical.
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These flowers are ordinarily described as belonging to the anomaly known as "peloria," or regular form of a normally symmetric type; they are large and irregular on the stems and the vigorous branches but slender and quinate on the weaker twigs.
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Possibly, these several differences may be connected with some difference in the flow of nutriment towards the central and external flowers: we know, at least, that in irregular flowers, those nearest to the axis are oftenest subject to peloria, and become regular.
Note
The word 'peloria' comes from a Greek root meaning 'monstrous'.