MEIOSTEMONOUS Meaning and
Definition
-
Meiostemonous is an adjective that refers to a particular botanical characteristic found in many plants. It describes a flower that has an intermediate number of stamens (male reproductive organs) compared to other species within its genus or family.
In plants, the stamen is the part of the flower that contains the pollen-producing anthers. Typically, flowers exhibit a consistent number of stamens within their taxonomic group. However, in some cases, species may display variation in the number of stamens, and when the number is neither extreme nor consistent among related species, it is referred to as meiostemonous.
The term "meiostemonous" is derived from the Greek words "meiōn" meaning "less" or "fewer," and "stēmōn," which translates to "thread" or "stamen." This combination directly reflects the characteristic of having a reduced or intermediate number of stamens.
Understanding the meiostemonous trait in plants is important for taxonomists and botanists who study the relationships and classification of plant species. It helps differentiate between species and provides insights into their evolutionary history. The phenomenon of meiostemony can also be considered an intriguing feature, as it raises questions about the reproductive strategies and genetic diversification of plants.
-
In bot., a term applied to stamens less in number than the parts of the corolla.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for MEIOSTEMONOUS
- meiostemonots
- meiostemonou3
- meiostemonouc
- meiostemonouq
- meiostemonour
- meiostemoknowus
- m eiostemonous
- me iostemonous
- mei ostemonous
- meio stemonous
- meios temonous
- meiost emonous
- meioste monous
- meiostem onous
- meiostemo nous
- meiostemon ous
- meiostemono us
- meiostemonou s
Etymology of MEIOSTEMONOUS
The word "meiostemonous" is derived from two Greek roots: "meio-" and "stemon".
The root "meio-" comes from the Greek word "meion" meaning "less" or "fewer". It is often used as a prefix to indicate something that is diminished or reduced in some way.
The root "stemon" comes from the Greek word "stemon" meaning "thread" or "stamen". In botany, the term "stamen" refers to the male reproductive part of a flower, which typically consists of a filament (thread-like structure) and an anther (the pollen-bearing structure at the top of the filament).
By combining these two roots, "meiostemonous" was formed to describe a condition in botany where a flower has fewer stamens than usual or the stamens are reduced in some way.
