by Mary Free and Christa Watters, Extension Master Gardeners
You may look at the word exserted and think that it is spelled incorrectly. You are not alone. The spell-checkers in some word processing software programs will indicate a misspelling and try to change the word to exerted, excerpted, or something similar. However, the spelling is correct if you are using exserted to describe a plant part that projects beyond the parts that enclose it. In particular, it is used to distinguish stamens or styles that protrude beyond the length of the flower’s petals.
Learn more about exserted.
flowers with conspicuously exserted stamens.
Photo © Christa Watters
flowers with five much exserted stamens.
Photo © Elaine Mills
