Illustration of spadix
- 1 spadix
plural spadices
ˈspā-də-ˌsēz 
: a floral spike with a fleshy or succulent axis usually enclosed in a spathe
Examples of spadix in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The flower’s tall spadix, or collection of tiny flowers shaped into a spike, also produces heat to propel the odor further and attract more pollinators.
—
Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2023
The plant's long central stalk, called a spadix, had been growing by a few inches a day since the beginning of March in preparation for the bloom, finally reaching more than 60 inches in height when the fleshy, dark red leaf around its base eventually unfurled on the 18th.
—Veronique Greenwood, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2012
In a Facebook post on Monday night, the zoo said officials observed a sagging of the spadix, which is a sign that the flower will not bloom.
—Peter Rasmussen, San Antonio Express-News, 18 July 2022
Horticulture Manager John Clements was one of several garden employees who stayed overnight Sunday to photograph, measure, study and hand-pollinate the flowers at the base of the spadix.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Nov. 2021
The chemical reaction that creates the acidic aroma also heats up the flower’s spadix in a process known as thermogenesis.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Nov. 2021
The flower is quite striking to look at, with a huge potatolike pod, called the spadix, rising out of a frilly and fantastically colored spath, which resembles a petal.
—Karl J. P. Smith, Scientific American, 29 July 2016
The tall center part, called the spadix, actually heats up to help disperse its distinct odor.
—Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, 22 May 2019
Finally at peak bloom, the purple, velvety petal sheath opens up like an inverted umbrella to reveal the beige spadix at the center.
—Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 Sep. 2017
Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2023
The plant's long central stalk, called a spadix, had been growing by a few inches a day since the beginning of March in preparation for the bloom, finally reaching more than 60 inches in height when the fleshy, dark red leaf around its base eventually unfurled on the 18th.
—Veronique Greenwood, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2012
In a Facebook post on Monday night, the zoo said officials observed a sagging of the spadix, which is a sign that the flower will not bloom.
—Peter Rasmussen, San Antonio Express-News, 18 July 2022
Horticulture Manager John Clements was one of several garden employees who stayed overnight Sunday to photograph, measure, study and hand-pollinate the flowers at the base of the spadix.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Nov. 2021
The chemical reaction that creates the acidic aroma also heats up the flower’s spadix in a process known as thermogenesis.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Nov. 2021
The flower is quite striking to look at, with a huge potatolike pod, called the spadix, rising out of a frilly and fantastically colored spath, which resembles a petal.
—Karl J. P. Smith, Scientific American, 29 July 2016
The tall center part, called the spadix, actually heats up to help disperse its distinct odor.
—Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, 22 May 2019
Finally at peak bloom, the purple, velvety petal sheath opens up like an inverted umbrella to reveal the beige spadix at the center.
—Pam Kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 Sep. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spadix.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Spadix.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spadix. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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