isomerous, a.
(aɪˈsɒmərəs)
[f. as isomer + -ous.]
1. Bot. Of a flower: Having the same number of parts in each whorl. (Said also of the whorls.) Opp. to heteromerous 2 b.
| 1857 Henfrey Bot. §153 When the organs are equal in all the circles, the flowers are isomerous. Ibid., The stamens are mostly isomerous, with either one, two, or more whorls, when the floral envelopes are regular. 1882 Vines tr. Sachs' Bot. 601 When the number of members is the same in each whorl [of a flower] they are said to be isomerous, when this is not the case heteromerous. |
2. Anat. and Zool. Having the same number of parts or segments, as in the limbs; spec. belonging to the division Isomera of coleopterous insects, in which the number of tarsal joints is the same in all the legs: opp. to heteromerous 1. Applied also to molar teeth having the same number of ridges, as in existent elephants.
| 1878 Bartley tr. Topinard's Anthrop. ii. 74 In reptiles the two extremities are..symmetrical; and.. isomerous, flexion being exerted in the same direction. |
3. Chem. = isomeric.
| 1864 Webster, Isomorphism, A similarity of crystalline form; as, (a) Between substances of like composition or atomic proportions...(b) Between compounds of unlike composition or atomic proportions...The first of these is sometimes distinguished as isomerous or isonomic isomorphism; the second as heteromerous or heteronomic isomorphism. Dana. 1887 Syd. Soc. Lex., Isomerous, same as Isomeric. |