'differently-sepaled' originates from Modern English, specifically formed by combining 'differently' (from 'different' + the adverbial suffix '-ly') and 'sepaled' (adjectival form derived from 'sepal'), where 'differently' meant 'in a different way' and 'sepal' meant 'a leaf-like part that typically forms the calyx of a flower.'

'differently-sepaled' changed from the descriptive phrase 'differently sepaled' used in 19th–20th century botanical descriptions and eventually became written as the hyphenated compound 'differently-sepaled' in contemporary technical usage.

Initially, it simply described 'having sepals that differ in appearance,' and over time this literal descriptive sense has been retained as a specialist botanical adjective.