staminodes
|stam-i-nodes|
🇺🇸
/ˈstæmɪnoʊ/
🇬🇧
/ˈstæmɪnəʊ/
(staminode)
sterile/modified stamen
Etymology
'staminode' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'staminodium', where 'stamin-' derived from Latin 'stamen' meant 'thread (or warp of a loom)' and '-odes' from Greek meant 'resembling'.
'staminode' changed from New Latin 'staminodium' and was adopted into English as the botanical term 'staminode' in the mid-19th century.
Initially it meant 'resembling a stamen', but over time it evolved into the specific botanical sense 'a sterile or modified stamen'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sterile or abortive stamen in a flower, often modified in shape (e.g., petal-like, scale-like, or bristle-like) and sometimes serving to attract pollinators or protect reproductive organs.
Staminodes in many orchids are brightly colored and help attract pollinators.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/12 10:27