Ray-flower definition

Any of the small tubular flowers having a corolla with a long strap-shaped lobe, found in the flower heads of certain composite plants, as the units of a flower head of a dandelion or the marginal units of a flower head of a daisy.

Any of the flowers around the margin of the flower head of certain composite plants, as the daisy or aster.

One of the narrow flowers, resembling single petals, that surround the central disk in the capitulum or flower cluster of a plant of the composite family (Asteraceae or Compositae), such as the daisy or sunflower. Rays are often male flowers with sterile stamens.