a. Bot. [ad. L. supervolūtus, pa. pple. of supervolvĕre, f. super- SUPER- 2 + volvĕre to roll.] Applied to convolute leaves one of which envelops another in the bud, or to vernation in which this occurs; also to the lobes of a gamopetalous corolla each of which overlaps the next in the bud like convolute petals, or to æstivation in which this occurs.
1832. Lindley, Introd. Bot., 410. Supervolute (supervolutiva).
1861. Bentley, Man. Bot., 146. When a convolute leaf encloses another which is rolled up in a like manner,… the vernation is supervolute.
1880. A. Gray, Struct. Bot., iv. § 2 (ed. 6), 139. In Convolvulus and Datura the narrow plaits in the flower-bud overlap one another in a convolute way, when they are said to be Supervolute.
So Supervolutive a. [ad. mod.L. supervolūtīvus, see above and -IVE], applied to vernation or æstivation in which the leaves or corolla-lobes are supervolute.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1111/1.
