'multi-sporangiate' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically the Latin prefix 'multi-' from Latin 'multus' meaning 'many' and the Greek root 'sporangion' (via Late Latin 'sporangium') meaning 'spore vessel'.

'sporangion' in Greek became Late Latin 'sporangium', which entered scientific Latin and English as 'sporangium' and the adjective form 'sporangiate'; the modern compound 'multi-sporangiate' was formed by combining Latin 'multi-' with 'sporangiate' in scientific usage.

Initially based on its component roots to mean 'many spore-vessels'; over time it has retained this specific botanical meaning of 'bearing many sporangia'.