Diagram showing the parts of a mature flower. In this example the perianth is separated into a calyx (sepals) and corolla (petals)
A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. This may be because the parts of the perianth are undifferentiated (i.e. of very similar appearance), as in Magnolia, or because, although it is possible to distinguish an outer whorl of sepals from an inner whorl of petals, the sepals and petals have similar appearance to one another (as in Lilium). The term was first proposed by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1827 and was constructed by analogy with the terms "petal" and "sepal".[1][2] (De Candolle used the term perigonium or perigone for the tepals collectively; today, this term is used as a synonym for perianth.)[3]
^Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1827). Organographie végétale, ou Description raisonnée des organes des plantes; pour servir de suite et de développement a la théorie élémentaire de la botanique, et d'introduction a la physiologie végétale et a la physiologie végétale et a la description des familles. Paris: Deterville. p. 503.
^Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1841). Vegetable organography; or, An analytical description of the organs of plants. Vol. 2. Translated by Boughton Kingdon. London: Houlston & Stoneman. p. 90.
^Stearn, William Thomas (2004). Botanical Latin (p/b ed.). David & Charles/Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-7153-1643-6. p. 39.
A tepal is one of the outer parts of a flower (collectively the perianth). The term is used when these parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals...
paraperigon features bristles at the throat of the tepal tube. The perigone is about 7.6–10 cm in size and the tepal segments are 2–2.5 cm broad in their middle...
undifferentiated tepals resemble petals, they are referred to as "petaloid", as in petaloid monocots, orders of monocots with brightly colored tepals. Since they...
an internal angle of between 90 and 180 degrees Obtuse leaf shape Obtuse tepal shape Obtuse barracuda, a ray-finned fish Obtuse, a neighborhood in Brookfield...
sexual organs, consisting of the calyx (sepals) and the corolla (petals) or tepals when called a perigone. The term perianth is derived from Greek περί (peri...
difficult to distinguish, they are collectively called tepals. Examples of plants in which the term tepal is appropriate include genera such as Aloe and Tulipa...
plant bears a single white flower with greenish marks near the tip of the tepal, on a stem about 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) tall, occasionally more. The Latin...
flower has six tepals and six stamens. The tepals are white or greenish white, often marked with purplish brown or green speckles, each tepal being 5.5 to...
parts are undifferentiated and called tepals rather than distinct sepals and petals. Magnolia shares the tepal characteristic with several other flowering...
about the center of the flower. Typically, each sector might contain one tepal or one petal and one sepal and so on. It may or may not be possible to divide...
composed of six fused tepals forming a spherical to obovoid shape, constricted at the end to form a mouth around which the ends of the tepals show as small lobes...
Tecolote' WC (REDC) 1997. E. anguliger × 'Bonanza Belle'. Inner tepals creamy white; outer tepals lemon yellow or golden bronze, similar to the species. Nocturnal...
with stiff hair, the flower is red, with a black spot on the base of the tepal bract, which has a yellow margin around it. The flower appears from June...
tip of the stem, with six tepals spreading or reflexed, to give flowers varying from funnel shape to a "Turk's cap". The tepals are free from each other...
and so are often called tepals. Together they are called a perianth and are 5–10 millimeters in diameter. The outer three tepals are egg shaped (ovate)...
or white. They often have a different coloured blotch at the base of the tepals, internally. Because of a degree of variability within the populations and...
brownish, and arching. The outer tepals are linear, acute, 8–10 cm long, and reddish through amber. The inner tepals are whitish, oblanceolate or oblong...
members of these surrounding structures are known as sepals and petals (or tepals in flowers such as Magnolia where sepals and petals are not distinguishable...
sided along with 2 sets of tepal ( the inner being tepals being much larger than the outer). The three inner valves (tepals) are egg-shaped to pseudo-spherical...
leaves and several clusters of cup-shaped creamy white flowers with six tepals and golden centers. They bloom from May to June. This species is native...
yellow and red tepals, arranged in two whorls of three. The tepals bear a black, sometimes yellow, basal blotch interiorly. The outer tepals measure 3–6...
6 tepals and greenish-white stamens. Magnolia sieboldii subsp. sieboldii. Japan, Korea, eastern China. Tree or large shrub; flowers with 9-12 tepals and...
(pedicels) some 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. Each flower has six triply veined tepals that are 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and slightly hooded or boat-shaped at...
flowers are pale green or yellow (rarely white), with an orange band on the tepals; they yield large quantities of nectar. The tulip tree is the state tree...
not be differentiated. If this is the case, then they are described as tepals. The sepals, collectively called the calyx, are modified leaves that occur...
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