Cryptogamical

/ˌkrɪptəʊɡəˈmɪkəl/ adjective

Definition

An alternative form of cryptogamic; relating to or characteristic of plants that reproduce by spores rather than flowers and seeds.

Etymology

From 'cryptogamic' + the suffix '-al' (relating to), a variant form that appeared in 18th-century botanical texts as taxonomy became more standardized.

Kelly Says

Both 'cryptogamic' and 'cryptogamical' mean the same thing, but 'cryptogamical' sounds like old Victorian naturalists—it's the kind of word you'd hear in a dusty museum lecture from 1850.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.