A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Meditullium,-ii (s.n.II), abl.sg. meditullio: the middle [> L. medius + tollus > tellus,-uris (s.f.III), q.v., the earth, globe];

- Helleborus est plantae genus, flore rosaceo, plurimis scilicet petalis in orbem positis constante: ex cujus meditullio surgit pistillum plurimis corniculis, inter stamina & petala jacentibus circa basim cinctum (Tourn.), Hellebore is a type of plant, with a rose-like flower, namely composed of many petals arranged in a disc: from the middle of which arises the pistil surrounded around the base by many cornicula [i.e. little horn-like appendages], produced between the stamens and petals.

- (Apocynum) in aliis speciebus flos etiam campaniformis est sed inversus & multifidus, cujusque meditullium occupat capitulum quoddam elegans ex quinque corniculis in orbem positis constans (Tourn.), in other species the flower is also campanulate but inverted and multifid, of which the capitulum, [having] a certain elegance, occupies the middle, composed of five cornicula [i.e. little horn-like appendages] arranged in a disc.

- Glaux est plantae genus, flore monopetalo, campaniformi, vel patente vel clauso & multifido: ex cujus meditullio surgit pistillum, quod deinde abit in fructum seu testam, ut plurimum globosam, apice dehiscentem, ac seminibus foetam exiguis, placentae affixis ((Tourn.), Glaux is a kind of plant, with a monopetalous [i.e. gamopetalous] flower, campaniform [i.e. bell-shaped], either spreading or closed and much-divided: from the middle of which arises the pistil, which ultimately transforms into a fruit or test [i.e. seed-coat, shell], dehiscent at the apex, and pregnant with scanty seeds [i.e. few-seeded], attached to the placenta.

NOTE: Glaux maritima (Primulaceae) has apetalous flowers, but the calyx is pink and petaloid.