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Count the number of distinct sepals or lobes of a synsepalous calyx. In some flowers the calyx is showy, colored, or larger than the corolla. Do not count any bracts or bracteoles -- these are usually smaller than the sepals, and occur singly or in a pair at the base of the calyx, outside the whorl of sepals.
Use this feature only if the calyx is a single whorl. Some double flower cultivars have more than the normal number, or extra whorl(s), of petaloid sepals. Skip this feature if your flower has a semi-double or double calyx.