monospermous

or mon·o·sper·mal

[ mon-uh-spur-muhs ]

adjective

, Botany.

1. having one seed.

monospermous

/ ˌmɒnəʊˈspɜːməs /

adjective

1. (of certain plants) producing only one seed

Word History and Origins

Origin of monospermous¹

From the New Latin word monospermus, dating back to 1720–30. See mono-, spermous

Example Sentences

According to the earliest of these opinions, the female flower of Cycadeae and Coniferae is a monospermous pistillum, having no proper floral envelope.

From Project Gutenberg

Our readers may not care to know that the order of Nymphaeaceae "differs from Ranunculaceae in the consolidation of its carpels, from Papaveraceae in the placentation not being parietal, and from Nelumbiaceae in the want of a large truncated disc containing monospermous achenia"; but they may like to know that the water-lily has relations on land, in all gradations of society, from poppy to magnolia, and yet does not conform its habits precisely to those of any of them.

From Project Gutenberg

A species of Stravadium attracted our attention by its loose racemes of crimson coloured flowers, and of large three or four ribbed monospermous fruit; it was a small tree, with bright green foliage, and was the almost constant companion of the permanent water-holes.

From Project Gutenberg

The American species of the Linnean genus Tribulus are distinguishable from the rest of the published species, by having ten monospermous cocci, by their persistent calyx, and the absence of glands subtending the 5 filaments opposite to the sepals.

From Project Gutenberg