Having flowers with styles (the female part) of different lengths, typically found in plants that promote cross-pollination.
From Greek 'hetero-' (different) and 'stylos' (style, pillar). This botanical term emerged in the 19th century when botanists noticed patterns in flower structure that encouraged insect-mediated pollination between plants.
Primrose flowers are a perfect example—some plants have long styles with short stamens, while others have short styles with long stamens, making it nearly impossible for a flower to pollinate itself. Darwin was fascinated by this 'heterostyly' because it showed how nature evolved mechanical barriers to prevent self-fertilization.
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