: 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
What appears to be a single bloom is actually an enormous inflorescence, a cluster of many tiny flowers at the base of a tall central column called the spadix and surrounded by a deep purple, velvety spathe.
—
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Anthuriums are well known for their colorful, waxy spathes (leaves, often mistaken for flowers).
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
During floral trapping, the floral chamber can physically close through movement of hairs or expansion of parts of the plant, such as the surrounding spathe.
—Delphine Farmer, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
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
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.
ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Anthuriums are well known for their colorful, waxy spathes (leaves, often mistaken for flowers).
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
During floral trapping, the floral chamber can physically close through movement of hairs or expansion of parts of the plant, such as the surrounding spathe.
—Delphine Farmer, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Spathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spathe. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
