Bud
A flower that has not yet opened, still wrapped in its sepals.
Also: flower bud
A bud is a flower in waiting, folded tight and protected by the calyx. How far a bud has opened decides when a flower is cut for sale. Roses are cut when the outer petals begin to loosen. Lilies and gladioli are cut when the first bud shows colour, and peonies when the bud feels soft like a marshmallow. In South India, jasmine is picked as closed buds in the early morning so that garlands open and release scent later in the day.