noun
- A whorl of bracts or leaf-like structures situated just below the calyx of a flower.
Usage: botanical term; also called an outer calyx or false calyx
Examples
- The epicalyx of the strawberry flower consists of small green bracts beneath the true sepals.
- In many plants of the mallow family, the epicalyx is a distinctive feature used for identification.
- Botanists examine the epicalyx to help classify flowering plants accurately.
- The epicalyx protects the developing flower bud before it opens.