Petaloideus
/pet-a-LOY-dee-us/🏷️ Taxonomy●●● Advanced
Also known as: petaloidea, petaloideum
A floral morphology epithet indicating that non-petal structures have become petal-like in texture and color. Appears as petaloideus (masculine), petaloidea (feminine), or petaloideum (neuter).
Etymology
From Greek petalon (a petal) + -oides (resembling), meaning "petal-like."
Example
“Helleborus niger has its large showy sepals described as petaloid, and Clematis — whose flowers lack true petals — has petaloid sepals that attract pollinators.”