polyadelphous

[ pol-ee-uh-del-fuhs ]

adjective

, Botany.

1. (of stamens) united by the filaments into three or more sets or bundles.

polyadelphous

/ ˌpɒlɪəˈdɛlfəs /

adjective

1. (of stamens) having united filaments so that they are arranged in three or more groups
2. (of flowers) having polyadelphous stamens

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyadelphous¹

1855–60; < Greek polyádelphos having many siblings; poly-, -adelphous

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyadelphous¹

C19: from New Latin, from poly- + -adelphous from Greek adelphos brother

Example Sentences

Stamens polyadelphous or nearly distinct; anthers 2-celled.

From Project Gutenberg

Shrubs or trees, with alternate simple leaves destitute of stipules, and perfect regular flowers; the calyx either free or adherent to the 2–5-celled ovary; the corolla of 4–8 petals, commonly more or less united at base; the stamens twice as many as the petals or more numerous, monadelphous or polyadelphous at base; style 1; fruit dry or drupe-like, 1–5-celled, the cells commonly 1-seeded.—Seeds anatropous.

From Project Gutenberg

Branching of stamens also produces apparent want of symmetry; thus, in the so-called polyadelphous stamens of Hypericaceae there are really only five stamens which give off numerous branches, but the basal portion remaining short, the branches have the appearance of separate stamens, and the flower thus seems asymmetrical.

From Project Gutenberg

Poly-, in compound words of Greek origin, same as multi- in those of Latin origin viz. many, as Polyadelphous, stamens united by their filaments into several bundles, 100.

From Project Gutenberg