Cyathium

Cyathium (Pl. Cyathia) [ Botany ]	Dictionary of botanic terminology - index of names
Adjective: Cyathiform, Cyathophorous

An inflorescence consisting of a cuplike cluster of modified leaves enclosing unisexual flowers or a female flower and several male flowers. Ciathya are the typical inflorescence of the Euphorbia.

From Latin “kuathion”, diminutive of “kuathos” ( a ladle).

A cyathium is the very special pseudanthia (false flower) in the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) It is an inflorescence with unisexual flowers (or a female flower and several male flowers) surrounded by a cup-like cluster of involucral bracts. This bracts or bracteoles are usually five (or four). The cyathium comprises also 1 to 10 nectar glands. The true female flower consists of an ovary on a short stem with pistil, it is extremely reduced and stands in the centre. The 5 (-4) male flowers at the base of each bracteole are extremely reduced too, each consist of a single anther on a stem.
The flower-like appearance of the cyathia are often emphasized by brightly coloured nectar glands and by petal-like appendages to the nectar glands, or brightly coloured, petal-like bracts positioned under the cyathia. e.g. the poinsettia.
The cyathia are rarely solitary, but mostly in terminal or axillary cymes or clusters. Male cymes 1–10-flowered.

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