Endospermous

/ˌɛndoʊˈspɜrməs/ adjective

Definition

Having or characterized by endosperm; relating to seeds that store nutrients in a special tissue rather than in the seed leaves.

Etymology

Variant form of endospermic, using the suffix -ous (full of, having) instead of -ic. Both forms appeared in botanical literature in the 1800s as scientists classified seed types.

Kelly Says

Monocots (like grasses and lilies) are typically endospermous, while dicots often aren't—this single difference helped botanists organize the entire plant kingdom!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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