Re*cep"ta*cle (r&esl;*s&ebreve;p"t&adot;*k'l), n. [F. réceptacle, L. receptaculum, fr. receptare, v. intens. fr. recipere to receive. See Receive.] 1. That which serves, or is used, for receiving and containing something, as a basket, a vase, a bag, a reservoir; a repository.

O sacred receptacle of my joys!

2. (Bot.) (a) The apex of the flower stalk, from which the organs of the flower grow, or into which they are inserted. See Illust. of Flower, and Ovary. (b) The dilated apex of a pedicel which serves as a common support to a head of flowers. (c) An intercellular cavity containing oil or resin or other matters. (d) A special branch which bears the fructification in many cryptogamous plants.

• A container
  
• Botanical term for that part of the flower stalk (peduncle or pedicel) to which the floral parts are attached; also torus.
  
• # In the Asteraceae, the end of the peduncle to which all of the florets of the flower head are attached.