HEMITROPOUS Meaning and
Definition
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Hemitropous is an adjective used in the field of botany to describe a specific type of ovule or seed orientation found in flowering plants. The term is derived from the Greek words "hemi" meaning half, and "tropous" meaning turned.
In a hemitropous ovule, the embryo sac or female gametophyte remains partially turned or bent on itself, resulting in a characteristic curvature or looping of the ovule. This bending occurs due to the elongation of the funicle, the stalk-like structure that connects the ovule to the ovary wall. As a result, the micropyle - the small opening into the ovule - is brought closer to the base of the ovule.
Hemitropous ovules are typically observed in a wide range of angiosperms, including many families such as Orchidaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Menispermaceae. The adaptive significance of this ovule orientation is not entirely clear, but it may enhance the chances of successful fertilization by promoting easier pollen entry through the micropyle.
In addition to its botanical usage, the term hemitropous can also be employed more broadly to describe any curved or bent structure that exhibits a characteristic half-turned or half-twisted form.
Overall, hemitropous is a descriptive term used to characterize a specific ovule orientation observed in flowering plants, where the embryo sac is partially turned back onto itself resulting in a distinctive curved shape.
Common Misspellings for HEMITROPOUS
- gemitropous
- bemitropous
- nemitropous
- jemitropous
- uemitropous
- yemitropous
- hwmitropous
- hsmitropous
- hdmitropous
- hrmitropous
- h4mitropous
- h3mitropous
- henitropous
- hekitropous
- hejitropous
- hemutropous
- hemjtropous
- hemktropous
- hemotropous
Etymology of HEMITROPOUS
The word "hemitropous" is derived from two Greek terms: "hemitropos" (ἡμιτρόπος) and "hemi-" (ἡμι-).
The term "hemitropos" combines "hemi" meaning "half" or "partial" and "tropos" meaning "turn" or "direction". Thus, "hemitropos" can be understood as "partially turned" or "partially directed".
When "hemitropos" is combined with the prefix "hemi-", meaning "half" or "partial", it results in "hemitropous", describing a partial or incomplete turning or direction.
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