Nat. Hist. [ad. L. capitāt-us headed, f. caput, capit- head: cf. next, and see -ATE2 2.]
1. Having a distinct head, knob-headed.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Introd. Gudgin, capitate and not capitate.
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 274. [The Pistil] capitate, forming a little round head.
1848. Dana, Zooph., 135. Tentacles long and capitate.
2. Bot. Having the inflorescence in a close terminal cluster or head, as in composite flowers.
1686. Phil. Trans., XVI. 285. The capitate Herb, whose flowers are fistular.
1794. Martyn, Rousseau’s Bot., x. 103. Capitate flowers like the thistles.
1861. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., V. 298. Dense-headed Rush, or Capitate Rush.
Hence Capitated ppl. a., with same meaning.
1676. Grew, Anat. Flowers, App. § 15. Without Stalks, that is, Capitated, as in Scabious.
1763. Ehret, in Phil. Trans., LIII. 132. Having a globular or capitated stigma.
