anisocotyly
|a-ni-so-cot-y-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˌænɪsoʊˈkɑtəli/
🇬🇧
/ˌænɪsəˈkɒtəli/
unequal cotyledons
Etymology
'anisocotyly' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'anisos' (meaning 'unequal') and 'kotyledon' (meaning 'cup' or 'seed-leaf'), with the suffix '-y' forming a noun.
'anisocotyly' was formed as a Neo-Latin/botanical term from Greek roots ('anisos' + 'kotyledon') and was adopted into English botanical usage in the 19th century to describe unequal cotyledons.
Initially it literally referred to 'unequal cup/seed-leaves' from its Greek components; over time it came to denote the specific botanical condition in which a seedling's cotyledons differ in size or form.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a botanical condition in which the cotyledons (seed leaves) of a seedling are unequal in size, shape, or growth, often with one cotyledon continuing to grow while the other remains small or stops growing.
Anisocotyly is common in some Gesneriaceae species, where one cotyledon enlarges after germination while the other remains small.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/13 04:37