n. [ L. umbella a little shadow, umbrella, dim. of umbra shade. See Umbrella. ] (Bot.) A kind of flower cluster in which the flower stalks radiate from a common point, as in the carrot and milkweed. It is simple or compound; in the latter case, each peduncle bears another little umbel, called umbellet, or umbellule. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to an umbel; having the form of an umbel. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Bot.) A small or partial umbel; an umbellule. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, certain umbelliferous plants;
Umbellic acid. (Chem.)
n. [ NL. See Umbelliferous. ] (Bot.) A plant producing an umbel or umbels. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Chem.) A tasteless white crystalline substance,
a. [ Umbel + -ferous: cf. F. ombellifère. ] (Bot.)
‖prop. n. [ NL. See Umbellule. ] (Zool.) A genus of deep-sea alcyonaria consisting of a cluster of large flowerlike polyps situated at the summit of a long, slender stem which stands upright in the mud, supported by a bulbous base. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ NL. umbellula, dim. of umbella: cf. F. ombellule. ] (Bot.) An umbellet. [ 1913 Webster ]