Connation in
plants is the developmental fusion of organs of the same type, for example,
petals to one another to form a tubular
corolla.[1][2] This is in contrast to
adnation, the fusion of dissimilar organs. Such organs are described as connate or adnate, respectively. When like organs that are usually well separated are placed next to each other, but not actually connected, they are described as connivent (that is the case for
anthers in several genera, such as Solanum).
Terms for connation of flower parts
Synsepalous: All the
sepals of a
flower are fused into a cup or tube; the fused portion is the calyx tube, and any non fused tips are the calyx lobes.
Sympetalous: All the
petals of a flower are fused into a cup, tube, or other shape.