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papilionaceous
papilionaceous definition
pa·pilio·na·ceous (pə pil′ē ō nā′s̸həs)
adjective
Bot. shaped like a butterfly: said of certain flowers, esp. those of some legumes, as the pea
Etymology: < L papilio, butterfly (< redupl. of IE base *pel-, to fly, flutter, swim > OE fifealde, butterfly) + -aceous
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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