umbel, umbella

[Lat. umbella =a little shadow, dim in. from umbra a shadow.] Bot.: A kind of inflorescence, in which the pedicels all proceed from a single point like the spokes of an umbrella, and are of equal length or corymbose. When each of the pedicels bears only a single flower, as in Eryngium, the umbel is said to be simple; when it divides and bears other umbels, as in Heracleum, it is said to be compound. In the latter case the a emblage of umbels is called the universal umbel, and the secondary umbels the partial unbels; or the universal umbel is called simply the umbel and the secondary ones the umbellules. The peduncles supporting the partial umbe's are termed radii. ŭm-běl-lal, a. [UMBELLAR.] um-běl-lā-lēş, s. pl. [Fem. pl. of Mod. Latin umbellalis, from Lat. umbella.] [UMBEL.] Botany: The Umbellal Alliance; an alliance of Epigynous Exogens, having dichlamydeous, polypetalous flowers, solitary large seeds, and a small embryo lying in a large quantity of albumen. Orders: Apiaceae. Araliaceae, Cornacese, Hamameliidacese, and Bruniaceæ.