pleio-, plio-, pleo-
(plaɪəʊ, pliːəʊ)
combining forms of Gr. πλείων (poet. πλέων), πλεῖον, more, compar. of πολύς, -ύ, much; see poly-. Plio-, which follows Latin spelling, is chiefly used in generic names and their derivatives, as Pliosaurus, Pliosaurian.
‖ pleiochasium (-ˈkeɪzɪəm) Bot. [mod.L., irreg. f. Gr. χάσις separation, after dichasium], a cymose inflorescence having three or more lateral axes, a multiparous cyme. ‖ pleiomastia (-ˈmæstɪə), pleo-, Anat. [mod.L., f. Gr. µαστός breast, mamma], the condition of having more than one nipple upon the mamma. ‖ pleiomazia (-ˈmeɪzɪə), pleo-, Anat. [mod.L., f. Gr. µαζός, dial. var. of µαστός: see above], the condition of having more than the normal number of mammæ. pleiomerous (plaɪˈɒmərəs) a. Bot. [Gr. µέρος part], having (as a floral whorl) more than the normal number of parts; so pleiˈomery, pleiomerous condition. pleiophyllous (-ˈfɪləs) a. Bot. [Gr. ϕύλλον leaf]. ˈpleiophylly: see quots. pleiosporous (plaɪˈɒspərəs, plaɪəʊˈspɔərəs) a. Bot. [Gr. σπόρος seed], having more than the usual number of spores. ˈpleiotaxy (-tæksɪ) Bot. [Gr. τάξις arrangement: cf. phyllotaxy], the condition of having more than the usual number of floral whorls, as in ‘double’ flowers. pleiothalamous (-ˈθæləməs) a. Bot. [Gr. θάλαµος chamber], having more than the usual number of chambers or receptacles. ‖ pleiotrachea (-trəˈkiːə) Bot. [mod.L.: see trachea], a vessel containing a spiral band composed of a number of fibres. See also words in pleo-, plio-.
| 1850 J. Birkett Dis. Breast 206 *Pleiomastia... There are examples..of the existence of supernumerary nipples... They may be situated near together, and possess an areola in common, or they may be separated and encircled by an areola distinctly defined. 1895 in Syd. Soc. Lex. |
| 1850 J. Birkett Dis. Breast 23 *Pleiomazia..signifies numerical excess beyond the usual complement of the mammæ. 1895 Syd. Soc. Lex., Pleomazia. |
| 1898 tr. Strasburger's Bot. ii. ii. 453 The origin of a *pleiomerous whorl from one consisting of fewer members is equally well shown in the flowers of Tilia. |
| 1895 Syd. Soc. Lex., *Pleiomery,..due either to the branching of one member at an early stage or to an original development of two members in place of one. 1898 tr. Strasburger's Bot. ii. ii. 453 Multiplication of the members of a whorl (pleiomery) occurs most often in the andrœcium. |
| 1832 Lindley Introd. Bot. i. ii. 46 By some writers nodi, upon which buds are obviously formed, are called compound, or artiphyllous; and those in which no apparent buds are discoverable, are named simple, or *pleiophyllous. 1858 Mayne Expos. Lex., Pleiophyllus, applied to a plant which bears a great number of leaves without a branch at the axilla, as the Linum, Abies, and Taxus: pleiophyllous. |
| 1895 Syd. Soc. Lex., *Pleiophylly, a condition of abnormal increase in the number of leaves growing from a certain point, or in the number of leaflets of a plant. |
| 1890 Cent. Dict., *Pleiosporous. |
| Ibid., *Pleiotaxy. 1895 in Syd. Soc. Lex. |
| 1890 Cent. Dict., *Pleiothalamous. |
| 1876 Balfour in Encycl. Brit. IV. 86/1 The spiral in such cases is called compound, and the vessels *pleiotracheæ. |