3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Involucre  \In"vo*lu`cre\  (?;  277),  n.  [L.  involucrum  a  covering, 
  wrapper,  fr  involvere  to  wrap  up  envelop:  cf  F.  involucre. 
  See  {Involve}.]  (Bot.) 
  a  A  whorl  or  set  of  bracts  around  a  flower,  umbel,  or  head. 
  b  A  continuous  marginal  covering  of  sporangia,  in  certain 
  ferns,  as  in  the  common  brake,  or  the  cup-shaped 
  processes  of  the  filmy  ferns. 
  c  The  peridium  or  volva  of  certain  fungi.  Called  also 
  {involucrum}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Proper  \Prop"er\,  a.  [OE.  propre,  F.  propre,  fr  L.  proprius 
  Cf  {Appropriate}.] 
  1.  Belonging  to  one  one's  own  individual.  ``His  proper 
  good''  [i.  e.,  his  own  possessions].  --Chaucer.  ``My 
  proper  son.''  --Shak. 
 
  Now  learn  the  difference,  at  your  proper  cost, 
  Betwixt  true  valor  and  an  empty  boast.  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  Belonging  to  the  natural  or  essential  constitution; 
  peculiar;  not  common;  particular;  as  every  animal  has  his 
  proper  instincts  and  appetites. 
 
  Those  high  and  peculiar  attributes  .  .  .  which 
  constitute  our  proper  humanity.  --Coleridge. 
 
  3.  Befitting  one's  nature,  qualities,  etc.;  suitable  in  all 
  respect;  appropriate;  right  fit  decent;  as  water  is  the 
  proper  element  for  fish;  a  proper  dress. 
 
  The  proper  study  of  mankind  is  man.  --Pope. 
 
  In  Athens  all  was  pleasure,  mirth,  and  play,  All 
  proper  to  the  spring,  and  sprightly  May  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  Becoming  in  appearance;  well  formed;  handsome.  [Archaic] 
  ``Thou  art  a  proper  man.''  --Chaucer. 
 
  Moses  .  .  .  was  hid  three  months  of  his  parents, 
  because  they  saw  he  was  a  proper  child.  --Heb.  xi 
  23. 
 
  5.  Pertaining  to  one  of  a  species,  but  not  common  to  the 
  whole;  not  appellative;  --  opposed  to  {common};  as  a 
  proper  name  Dublin  is  the  proper  name  of  a  city. 
 
  6.  Rightly  so  called  strictly  considered;  as  Greece  proper; 
  the  garden  proper. 
 
  7.  (Her.)  Represented  in  its  natural  color;  --  said  of  any 
  object  used  as  a  charge. 
 
  {In  proper},  individually;  privately.  [Obs.]  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
 
  {Proper  flower}  or  {corolla}  (Bot.),  one  of  the  single 
  florets,  or  corollets,  in  an  aggregate  or  compound  flower. 
 
 
  {Proper  fraction}  (Arith.)  a  fraction  in  which  the  numerator 
  is  less  than  the  denominator. 
 
  {Proper  nectary}  (Bot.),  a  nectary  separate  from  the  petals 
  and  other  parts  of  the  flower.  --  {Proper  noun}  (Gram.),  a 
  name  belonging  to  an  individual,  by  which  it  is 
  distinguished  from  others  of  the  same  class;  --  opposed  to 
  {common  noun};  as  John,  Boston,  America. 
 
  {Proper  perianth}  or  {involucre}  (Bot.),  that  which  incloses 
  only  a  single  flower. 
 
  {Proper  receptacle}  (Bot.),  a  receptacle  which  supports  only 
  a  single  flower  or  fructification. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  involucre 
  n  :  a  highly  conspicuous  bract  or  bract  pair  or  ring  of  bracts 
  at  the  base  of  an  inflorescence 

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