polyandrous

[pol-ee-an-druhs]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or practicing polyandry; polyandric.

2. Botany.,  having an indefinite number of stamens.

polyandrous

1. Relating to a species of animals in which the females mate with more than one male in a single breeding season.

2. Relating to an angiosperm plant that has an indefinite number of stamens in its flowers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyandrous¹

First recorded in 1820–30, polyandrous is from the Greek word polyándros having many husbands. See poly-, -androus

Example Sentences

Female chimps and bonobos, on the other hand, are decidedly polyandrous.

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The participants in Prof Machoko's study all lived separately but were committed to the polyandrous union and were open about it among themselves.

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And scientists suspect that, like their polyandrous cousins, female kalutas are capable of internally stockpiling sperm for up to two weeks before fertilization.

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And in both studies human semenogelin genes lie closest to chimpanzees and bonobos, suggesting that our common ancestors were polyandrous females and sperm competing males.

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Trees or shrubs, with naked buds and no stipules, a calyx of 3 sepals, and a corolla of 6 petals in two rows, valvate in the bud, hypogynous, polyandrous.—Petals thickish.

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