Rhipidium
/rɪˈpɪdiəm/noun
A fan-shaped or winding inflorescence in which flowers arise along a zigzag axis.
Did you know?Rhipidium comes from Greek rhიპίς, a fan, the same image used in classical descriptions of objects designed to stir or move air.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥιπίς (rhipís)
“Fan; a broad implement used to stir or move air”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥιπίδιον (rhipídion)
“Little fan; diminutive form of rhipís”
19th Century
New Latin
rhipidium
“A botanical term modeled on Greek rhipídion for a fan-shaped inflorescence”
19th Century
Botanical Latin
rhipidium
“A cymose flower cluster with a coiled or zigzag axis and flowers arranged in a fan-like pattern”
Modern English
English
rhipidium
“A fan-shaped or winding inflorescence”
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