papilionaceous

(pə pil′ē ō nā′s̸həs)

adjective

Bot. shaped like a butterfly: said of certain flowers, esp. those of some legumes, as the pea

Origin: < L papilio, butterfly (< redupl. of IE base *pel-, to fly, flutter, swim > OE fifealde, butterfly) + -aceous

See papilionaceous in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Having a bilaterally symmetrical corolla somewhat resembling a butterfly, characteristic of most plants of the pea family.

Origin:

Origin: Latin pāpiliō, pāpiliōn-, butterfly; see pavilion

Origin: + -aceous

Learn more about papilionaceous

papilionaceous in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD