"flosculous" - Word of the Day from the OED

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flosculous, a.

SECOND EDITION 1989

(flskjls)  [f. as prec. + -OUS.] 

    1. Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of flowers; having the savour of flowers. Obs.

1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. II. vi. 97 A dry and flosculous coat [of the nutmeg], commonly called Mace. a1682 Tracts (1684) 25 Putting the dried Flowers of the Vine into new Wine to give it a..flosculous race or spirit.

    2. Abounding with flowers, flowery. rare.

1676 in COLES. 1824 PRICHARD Welsh Minstr. 13 Thou flosculous and fruitful fair one!

    3. Bot.    a. Composed of floscules or florets.

1785 MARTYN Rousseau's Bot. vi. 68 The Flosculous flowers, or such as are composed of florets. 1845 LINDLEY Sch. Bot. vi. (1858) 84 Flowers either flosculous or radiant.

    b. Of a floret: Tubular.

1830 LINDLEY Nat. Syst. Bot. 198 Corymbiferæ, the florets of which are flosculous in the middle. 1870 BENTLEY Bot. (1887) 594 Corymbiferæ, the plants of which have either all tubular (flosculous) and perfect florets; or [etc.].

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