papilionaceous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having a butterfly-shaped corolla, as in many flowers of the pea family

   The bean plant bears a papilionaceous flower with a broad standard and two wing petals.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to or resembling a butterfly

   The insect's papilionaceous outline was visible against the pale wall.

From New Latin papilionaceus, based on Latin papilio, papilionis ("butterfly"), plus English -ous. Botanists used the term for the butterfly-like arrangement of petals typical of many pea-family flowers.

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