strobilus

[ stroh-bahy-luh s ]
/ stroʊˈbaɪ ləs /

noun, plural stro·bi·li [stroh-bahy-lahy] /stroʊˈbaɪ laɪ/. Botany.

a reproductive structure characterized by overlapping scalelike parts, as a pine cone or the fruit of the hop.
a conelike structure composed of sporophylls, as of the club mosses and horsetails.
Also called stro·bile [stroh-bahyl, -bil] /ˈstroʊ baɪl, -bɪl/.

Origin of strobilus

1700–10; < New Latin strobīlus, Late Latin: pine cone < Greek stróbīlos pine cone, whirlwind, whirling dance, derivative of stróbos whirling around

Words nearby strobilus

strobe tuner, strobic, strobila, strobilaceous, strobilation, strobilus, stroboradiograph, stroboscope, stroboscopic microscope, strobotron, strode

British Dictionary definitions for strobilus

strobilus

strobile (ˈstrəʊbaɪl)

/ (ˈstrəʊbɪləs) /

noun plural -biluses, -bili (-bɪlaɪ) or -biles

botany the technical name for cone (def. 3)

Word Origin for strobilus

C18: via Late Latin from Greek strobilos a fir cone; see strobila

Scientific definitions for strobilus

strobilus
[ strō-bī′ləs ]

Plural strobili (strō-bī′lī)

A reproductive structure that consists of sporophylls or scales arranged spirally or in an overlapping fashion along a central stem, as in horsetails, some lycophytes, and many kinds of gymnosperms. For example, the cones of pine trees are strobili.
An inflorescence or ripened multiple fruit in which many floral bracts are arranged in an overlapping fashion, as in the hop plant.