GLOSSARY OF DAHLIAS TERMS



BLEND
Two or more colors which gradually merge but are distinguishable from a distance of six feet.
CENTRAL RAYS
The short immature ray florets comprising the central portion of the fully double flowers when at their prime stage.
DISC
A more or less flat, circular group of tubular florets fully visible in open-centered type Dahlias.
DISC FLORETS
Small tubular florets which make up the central part of the flower head, each with a pistil and stamens but generally no other conspicuous flower parts.
DWARF
Dahlia varieties which normally do not produce plant growth over 24 inches in height.
FLORET
One of the small flowers which collectively comprise the flower head.
FULLY DOUBLE
Flower heads with multiple rows of ray florets; the disc florets are immature and completely covered by the central rays when the flower is at its prime stage.
INCURVED
The ray florets curve forward along their length toward the face of the flower head.
INVOLUTE
Margins of the ray florets roll forward along their longitudinal axis. When fully involute the margins touch or overlap so only the revers of the floret is visible.
LACINIATED
The split or fimbriation should be in proportion to ray floret length, and be no less than 1/6 of ray floret length, there should be a twisting in the area of the split involute or revolute ray florets, to give an overall fringed effect.
MARGIN
The edge of the ray floret and the area adjacent.
MARGINAL RAYS
Fully developed ray florets which establish and determine the maximum diameter of a flower, as distinguished from the immature central rays.
PETAL
The common name for the conspicuously colored part of a floret.
PETALOIDS
Additonal floral parts on ray florets having the form and appearance of smaller petals. Most noticable in the Collarette Dahlias.
RAY FLORET
One of the broad, conspicuously colored florets, the structure of which suggests a single petal of an ordinary flower. These form the radiating border in the open-centered type dahlias, or massed together, the flower head in fully double types.
RECURVED
The ray florets curve backward along their length toward the stem.
REVOLUTE
Margins of the ray floret roll backward allong their longitudinal axis. When fully revolute, the margins touch or overlap.
STRAIGHT
The ray florets have little or no curvature throughout their length.


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Dahlia and Zinnia