exserted [ ek-SUR-tid ] adjective Biology: of a structure, projecting beyond its surrounding parts
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. If the stamens are of varying lengths, those that do not project beyond the petals are sometimes referred to as “included.”
Various Flora and botanical sites may use different adverbs to describe how exserted—slightly, strongly, well, much, long, prominently, or conspicuously—the stamens and/or styles are.
Examples of Exserted Stamens or Styles
Note: Plant attributes—in italics—are taken directly from the source that follows each description.
Aesculus parviflora (bottlebrush buckeye): stamens exserted, 2-4X as long as the petals. Flora of the Southeastern US
Stamens 6, strongly exserted.
Missouriplants.com
Allium cernuum (nodding onion): stamens and pistils well exserted. Flora of Virginia
The flowers…consisting of 6 spreading tepals, 6 exserted stamens, and an ovary with a style. Illinois Wildflowers
Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine): stamens exserted; styles much exserted. Flora of Virginia
This flower has 5 petals, 5 petal-like sepals, and strongly exerted stamens and styles. Illinois Wildflowers
Callicarpa americana (American beauty-berry): prominently exserted stamens and styles. Arkansas Native Plant Society
stamens exserted. Flora of Virginia
Cleome serrulata synonym Peritoma serrulata (Rocky Mountain bee plant): Flowers closely resemble those of the Brassicaceae, but have long, exserted stamens. USDA NRCS Plant Guide
Heuchera villosa (hairy alumroot): stamens exserted 2-2.5 mm; styles exserted 1.5-2.5 mm, 2-4 mm,….Flora of North America
stamens long-exserted.
Flora of Virginia
Lilium superbum (Turk’s-cap lily): The stamens are quite conspicuous and strongly exserted from the base of the flower. Illinois Wildflowers
Lycoris radiata (red spider lily): Stamens conspicuously exserted. Flora of China.
Plantago lanceolata (English plantain): The strongly exerted stamens are the most conspicuous feature of the flowers. Illinois Wildflowers
Rhododendron periclymenoides (wild azalea): stamens 5, much exserted, ± unequal, 32–68 mm. Flora of North America
Tiarella cordifolia var. collina Wherry synonym Tiarella wherryi :
stamens 2–5 mm, exserted.
Flora of Virginia
Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s-root): stamens long-exserted, filaments 7–9 mm. Flora of North America
long-exserted filaments, nearly 2x as long as the corolla. Flora of Virginia
*The insect is a lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus).
References
Key to Aesculus. 2024 Edition. Flora of the Southeastern United States. North Carolina Botanical Garden.
Aesculus parviflora. Bottlebrush Buckeye. Missouriplants.com. Edited by members of the Missouri Native Plant Society.
American Hazelnut. English Plantain. Nodding Onion. Turk’s Cap Lily. Wild Columbine. Illinois Wildflowers, © 2002-2012 by John Hilty.
Ji Z, Meerow AW. Lycoris radiata. Volume 24. Flora of China. Flora of China Project
Judd WS, Kron KA. Last edited on 5 November 2020. Rhododendron periclymenoides. Volume 8. Flora of North America. Flora of North America Association.
Skinner MW. Last edited on 5 November 2020. Lilium superbum. Volume 26. Flora of North America. Flora of North America Association.
Tilley D, Wolf M. 2024. Plant Guide for Rocky Mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata). USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. Aberdeen, ID 83210.
Vogelpohl S. 2016. Know Your Natives – Beautyberry. Arkansas Native Plant Society.
Weakley AS, Ludwig JC, Townsend JF. 2012. Flora of Virginia. Botanical Research Institute of Texas. pages 661, 796, 834, 935, 939, 992.
Wells EF, Shipes BG. Last edited on 6 November 2020. Heuchera villosa. Volume 8. Flora of North America. Flora of North America Association.