involucre

noun

in·​vo·​lu·​cre ˈin-və-ˌlü-kər 

: one or more whorls of bracts situated below and close to a flower, flower cluster, or fruit

involucral

ˌin-və-ˈlü-krəl 

adjective

involucrate

ˌin-və-ˈlü-krət 

-ˌkrāt

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & New Latin; French, going back to Middle French, borrowed from New Latin involūcre, going back to Latin involūcrum, involūcre "wrapper, cover, envelope" — more at involucrum

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above