a. Bot. [f. mod.L. apetal-us (a. Gr. ἀπέταλ-ος, leafless, f. ἀ priv. + πέταλον leaf) + -OUS.] Without petals.
1706. Phillips, Apetalous flowers or plants are such as want the fine colour’d Leaves of Flowers, which they call Petals.
1749. Mortimer, in Phil. Trans., XLVI. 53. Trees and Shrubs having apetalous Flowers.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 44. [Sweet Violet has] apetalous autumnal flowers, chiefly fertile.
