Monospermous is a rare word used in biology to describe organisms or cells that contain only one sperm. The spelling of this word is quite complex, with a long string of vowels and consonants. In IPA phonetic transcription, it can be spelled as /ˌmɒnəʊˈspɜːməs/, indicating the stress on the third syllable and the long vowel sounds in 'oh' and 'er'. While it may be a challenging word to spell, understanding its meaning is important in the field of biology.
Monospermous is an adjective referring to the condition in which an organism or structure contains only one seed or a single fertilized ovum. The word is derived from the combination of the prefix "mono," meaning "single" or "alone," and the word "spermous" derived from the Greek word "sperma," which means "seed."
In botanical terms, monospermous is often used to describe plants or plant structures that produce a single seed. For example, a monospermous fruit would contain only one seed, such as an almond or a peach. Similarly, a monospermous ovary would possess a single ovule that develops into a seed after fertilization.
The term can also be used in relation to animal biology, specifically referring to the fertilization of an egg by only one sperm. In this context, monospermous describes the reproductive process where the fusion of one sperm with an ovum results in the formation of a zygote, which eventually develops into an organism. This contrasts with polyspermous, where multiple sperm cells contribute to fertilization.
Overall, the term monospermous is employed in various fields such as botany and biology to describe the state of containing or being fertilized by only one seed or sperm, highlighting the singularity and uniqueness of the reproductive process or structure involved.
One-seeded; applied to a fruit having only one seed.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word monospermous is formed by combining two Greek roots: mono, which means one or single, and sperma, which means seed or sperm. The suffix -ous is added to indicate that it is an adjective form. Therefore, monospermous literally means having a single seed or producing a single offspring.