tepal
botany
Quick Summary
In botany, a tepal is one of the modified leaves that make up a flower's perianth. The perianth is the collective term for the calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals) of a flower. In some flowers, the sepals and petals are very similar in appearance and are not easily distinguishable; these undifferentiated structures are called tepals. Flowers like lilies and orchids have tepals. Sepals typically protect the flower bud, while petals often attract pollinators.123
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
6 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
