heteroecism

[ het-uh-ree-siz-uhm ]

noun

, Biology.

1. the development of different stages of a parasitic species on different host plants.

Other Words From

• het·er·oe·cious [het-, uh, -, ree, -sh, uh, s], adjective
• heter·oecious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of heteroecism¹

1870–75; hetero- + Greek oik(ía) “house” + -ism

Example Sentences

The eu and opsis forms may exhibit the remarkable phenomenon of heteroecism, i.e. the dependence of the fungus on two distinct host-plants for the completion of the life-history.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the only case of heteroecism known in the vegetable kingdom outside the Uredineae.

From Project Gutenberg

Heteroecism is very common in this group and is now known in over one hundred and fifty species.

From Project Gutenberg