'single-sporangiate' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound 'single' + 'sporangiate', where 'single' meant 'one' and 'sporangiate' derives from New Latin 'sporangium' (formed from Greek roots meaning 'spore' and 'vessel').

'sporangium' comes from New Latin 'sporangium', itself from Greek 'spora' ('seed' or 'spore') + 'angeion' ('vessel'); 'sporangiate' developed in botanical Latin/Modern English as an adjective related to 'sporangium', and the compound 'single-sporangiate' was formed in Modern English by combining 'single' with 'sporangiate'.

Initially related broadly to 'sporangium' (a spore-bearing vessel), the compound evolved to the specific descriptive meaning 'bearing a single sporangium per unit' used in botanical descriptions.