capitulum

Meanings

Plural: capitula, capitulums

Noun

• a dense cluster of flowers or foliage
• fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn
• an arrangement of leafy branches forming the top or head of a tree
• A densely clustered inflorescence composed of a large number of individual florets arising from a platform-like base.
• The head-like mouthpart apparatus of a tick, including the palpi, mandibles, and hypostome.
• A small protuberance on a bone which articulates into another bone to form a ball-and-socket joint.
• The enlarged end of a proboscis.
• The symbol ⸿. It was used to mark chapters or paragraphs, and is the ancestor of the pilcrow (¶).

Synonyms

capitellum, ear, head, sphaeridium, spike