polysperm, a. Bot. rare.
(ˈpɒlɪspɜːm)
[ad. Gr. πολύσπερµος abounding in seed, f. πολυ-, poly- + σπέρµα seed.]
Having, containing, or producing numerous seeds; many-seeded. Also polyˈspermal, polyˈspermatous, polyˈspermous a.
| 1686 Phil. Trans. XVI. 287 Those Herbs..being Polyspermous. 1719–26 Quincy Med. Dict., Polyspermous,..those Plants are thus called which have more than four Seeds succeeding each Flower, and this without any certain Order. 1729 Evelyn's Sylva ii. iii. 118 Easily rais'd of the Kernels and Nuts, which may be gotten out of their Polysperm and Turbinate Cones. 1845 Lindley Sch. Bot. iv. 26 Ovary polyspermous, many-celled. 1882 Ogilvie, Polyspermal, Polyspermous. 1895 Syd. Soc. Lex., Polyspermatous. |
[Polysperm, as n., in various Dicts., an error due to misquotation of Evelyn, quot. 1729 above.]