Multipetaled

Multipetaled is an adjective used in botany and horticulture to describe flowers that have many petals or several layers of petals, more than the typical floral structure of a species. The term derives from multi- meaning many and petaled, from petal, the leaf-like parts of a flower’s corolla. There is no fixed numerical threshold for what counts as multipetaled; it commonly refers to double or layered blooms that produce a fuller, more decorative appearance.

In botanical terminology, petal arrangements are described more precisely as polypetalous (free petals) or gamopetalous (fused petals). Multipetaled forms often arise through selective breeding in cultivated varieties to enhance petal number and density, rather than from a distinct taxonomic grouping. The concept is primarily descriptive and horticultural rather than a formal trait used in species delineation.

Examples of multipetaled ornamentals include many roses with dense, layered petals, peonies, camellias, ranunculus, and various chrysanthemums. Some cultivars of tulips and lilies also display multipetaled blooms, typically achieved through intentional breeding for ornamental appeal. In nature, petal number can vary within a species, and multipetaled forms may differ in symmetry and petal coloration, contributing to diverse floral aesthetics.

See also: double flower, petal count, polypetalous, apopetalous.