: a sheathing bract or pair of bracts partly enclosing an inflorescence and especially a spadix on the same axis
the spathe of the calla lily
Examples of spathe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Set atop large gray-green leaves, the flowers emerge one at a time from the spathe with three brilliant orange sepals and three bright blue petals.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 May 2025
This early bloomer starts out as a thick, rubber-like 4-6-inch tall spathe of varying colors such as yellow, red and green.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
By the creek, skunk cabbage pokes up reliably from the muck, its speckled, maroon-yellow spathe resembling a jester’s cap.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Plants grow to about 16 inches high and if content will produce long-lasting colorful spathes several months of the year.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2024
Peace lilies have long been popular houseplants for their glossy dark green leaves and pretty white flowers, called spathes.
—Kristin Tablang, House Beautiful, 18 Apr. 2023
The foliage appears in late fall, grows all winter and in late winter/early spring produces a whitish green spathe bloom.
—Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 May 2025
This early bloomer starts out as a thick, rubber-like 4-6-inch tall spathe of varying colors such as yellow, red and green.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
By the creek, skunk cabbage pokes up reliably from the muck, its speckled, maroon-yellow spathe resembling a jester’s cap.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Plants grow to about 16 inches high and if content will produce long-lasting colorful spathes several months of the year.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2024
Peace lilies have long been popular houseplants for their glossy dark green leaves and pretty white flowers, called spathes.
—Kristin Tablang, House Beautiful, 18 Apr. 2023
The foliage appears in late fall, grows all winter and in late winter/early spring produces a whitish green spathe bloom.
—Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Spathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spathe. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share