cyathium
plant anatomy
Quick Summary
A cyathium is a specific type of inflorescence found in plants, most notably in the poinsettia. It is characterized by a cuplike involucre, which is a structure that encloses the flowers. The flowers themselves arise from the base of this cup-shaped involucre. The term originates from the Greek word kyathion, meaning "little cup". This botanical term is distinct from cyatheaceae, which refers to a family of tropical tree ferns, and cyathus, which can refer to an ancient Greek drinking cup or a small cup-shaped plant organ.123
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