In Botanical, a spathe is large a Bractée membranous or foliaceous more or less wrapping a Inflorescence, and laterally open by a slit.

One finds some in particular in the family of the Aracée S (whose characteristic inflorescence the name of Spadice carries), which has at certain species a decorative value at the same time by their form and their color.

At the graminaceous ones (Poacée S), the ear of Maïs is protected by several spathes foliaceous which wraps seeds narrowly.

Certain bodies (chalice) can be known as in “form of spathe”.