heteromerous, a.
(hɛtəˈrɒmərəs)
[f. Gr. ἑτερο- hetero- + µέρος part + -ous.]
Having or consisting of parts differing in character, number, or other respect.
1. Entom. Having legs differing in the number of their tarsal joints; spec. belonging to the division Heteromera of coleopterous insects (see prec.).
| 1826 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. III. 683 The term heteromerous properly belongs to all insects in which the different pairs of tarsi vary inter se in the number of their joints. 1845 Darwin Voy. Nat. v. (1873) 98 Numerous Lamellicorn and Heteromerous insects. |
2. Bot. a. Applied to lichens in which the gonidia are arranged in one or more distinct layers within the thallus; opp. to homœomerous. b. Applied to flowers in which the members differ in number in the different whorls: opp. to isomerous.
| 1875 Bennett & Dyer Sachs' Bot. 265 The gonidia are crowded into one layer, by which the hyphal tissue is at the same time separated according to circumstances into an outer and inner or an upper and under layer; the thallus-tissue is then stratified, and such Lichens are termed Heteromerous. 1882 Vines 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. |
3. Chem. Unrelated as to chemical composition, as in certain cases of isomorphism.
| 1864 in Webster. |