polyphyletic, a.
(ˌpɒlɪfaɪˈlɛtɪk)
[f. poly- + Gr. ϕυλετικ-ός phyletic, after G. polyphyletisch.]
Belonging to several tribes or families; originating, as a species, from several independent ancestors or sources; relating to such origination; polygenetic.
| 1875 tr. Schmidt's Desc. & Darw. 325 The hypothesis of descent from many families (polyphyletic) possesses more probability. 1879 tr. Haeckel's Evol. Man II. xix. 182 Comparative Philology has recently shown that the present human language is polyphyletic in origin. 1881 Wetterhan in Nature 17 Mar. 458/1 The question of monophyletic or polyphyletic evolution of species. |
Hence polyphyˈletically adv.
| 1887 Amer. Naturalist XXI. 429 The epibolic gastrula of Polyxenia leucostyla might arise polyphyletically from totally different methods of forming the endoderm. |