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Glite Dictionary
apogamy

apogamy

9.9
Development of an embryo without fertilization in some plants like ferns
  • noun
  • /ˈæpəˌɡæmi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : apogamia
  • The occurrence of apogamy in ferns allows them to reproduce even when fertilization fails.

Examples

  • In some species, apogamy allows for rapid population growth.

  • The study focused on the genetic implications of apogamy in certain mosses and ferns.

  • Scientists have observed apogamy in several species of flowering plants under laboratory conditions.

  • The phenomenon of apogamy is fascinating in the study of ferns.

  • Researchers have documented apogamy in ferns, demonstrating how they can thrive without fertilization.

  • The process of apogamy enables certain plants to develop embryos independently of male gametes.

  • In their experiments, scientists found that apogamy occurs in some moss species, highlighting a unique reproductive strategy.

Synonyms

apomixis
vsapogamy
  • Specialized
9.9

A way some plants make seeds without fertilization, for example dandelions

is a specific form where an embryo or sporophyte develops without fertilization

Surface Forms

apogamy singular
apogamies plural

Morphology

apogamy = apo + gamy

Formed from the Greek combining elements apo- (away/without) + -gamy (marriage/fertilization); the parts are recognizable to learners familiar with biological/lexical compounds (e.g., monogamy), but they are not standalone common English words so the meaning is only partly inferable for general learners.

Etymology

The word apogamy comes from Greek parts apo- ('away from') and gamos ('marriage' or 'union'), the same gamy you see in monogamy. So in plants, apogamy means making a new plant 'without marriage', meaning it forms a new plant without the joining of male and female cells.