different between whorl vs verticillaster

English

Etymology

From alteration of whirl (verb).

Pronunciation

• enPR: wûrl, IPA^(key): /w??(?)l/
• Rhymes: -??(r)l
• Homophone: whirl

Noun

whorl (plural whorls)

1. A pattern of concentric circles.
2. (botany) A circle of three or more leaves, flowers, or other organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.
3. (zoology) A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve shell.
4. (anatomy) Any volution, as for example in the human ear or fingerprint.
5. A flywheel, a weight attached to a spindle. [from c. 1460]

Translations

Verb

whorl (third-person singular simple present whorls, present participle whorling, simple past and past participle whorled)

1. (intransitive) To form a pattern of concentric circles.

References

• whorl in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• whorl in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• whorl, Glossary of Terms, American Rhododendron Society

English

Etymology

Latin verticillus (“a whirl”) + aster (“a star”).

Noun

verticillaster (plural verticillasters)

1. (botany) A whorl of flowers apparently of one cluster, but composed of two opposite axillary cymes, as in mint.