keel
plant anatomy
Quick Summary
corolla forms
Figure 13: Representative forms of the corolla.
In plant anatomy, the keel is the lowest petal of a papilionaceous flower, such as those found in pea or bean plants. This petal is formed from two fused petals and encloses the pistil and stamens. This botanical definition of "keel" is distinct from its primary meaning in shipbuilding, which refers to the main structural member along the bottom of a boat or ship.12
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