sympetaly
Sympetaly refers to the fusion of petals in a flower. This fusion can occur at the base, along the entire length, or in various degrees between these extremes. Flowers with unfused petals are described as apopetalous, while those with fused petals are sympetalous. This characteristic is a significant feature in plant classification, often used to distinguish between major plant groups. For example, sympetaly is a common trait found in dicotyledonous plants, particularly within the asterid and rosid clades.
The degree of fusion can vary greatly. In some species, the petals are only fused at their