floret

[flawr-it, flohr-] /ˈflɔr ɪt, ˈfloʊr-/
noun
1.
a small flower.
2.
Botany. one of the closely clustered small flowers that make up the flower head of a composite flower, as the daisy.
3.
one of the tightly clustered divisions of a head of broccoli or cauliflower.
4.
Also, florette
[flaw-ret, floh-] /flɔˈrɛt, floʊ-/ (Show IPA). spun silk obtained from floss.
5.
Printing. flower (def 6).
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English flouret < Old French florete, diminutive of flor flower; see -et
Examples from the web for floret
  • Once primary infection has occurred, the disease can spread from floret to floret by mycelial growth through the spike structure.
  • Each ray floret has one yellow petal and surrounds the central disk.
  • The spikelets consist of two glumes which are longer than and enclose a single floret.
  • The lemma surface of the fertile floret is smooth and shiny.
  • Each ray floret is anatomically an individual flower with a single large petal.
British Dictionary definitions for floret

floret

/ˈflɔːrɪt/
noun
1.
a small flower, esp one of many making up the head of a composite flower
Word Origin
C17: from Old French florete a little flower, from florflower
Word Origin and History for floret
n.

c.1400, flourette, from Old French florete "little flower; cheap silk material," diminutive of flor "flower," from Latin flora (see flora). Botany sense is from 1670s.

floret in Science
floret
  (flôr'ĭt)   
A small or reduced flower, especially one that is part of a larger inflorescence, such as those of the grasses and plants of the composite family.