apocarpous

American  

[ap-uh-kahr-puhs] / ˌæp əˈkɑr pəs /

adjective

Botany.

1. having the carpels separate.

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apocarpous British  

/ ˌæpəˈkɑːpəs /

adjective

1. (of the ovaries of flowering plants such as the buttercup) consisting of separate carpels Compare syncarpous

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Other Word Forms

• apocarpy noun

Etymology

Origin of apocarpous

First recorded in 1820–30; apo- + -carpous

Example Sentences

It is useful to be able to classify a flower and to know that the buttercup belongs to the Family Ranunculaceae, with petals free and definite, stamens hypogynous and indefinite, pistil apocarpous.

From The Fairy-Land of Science by Buckley, Arabella B.

When the pistil consists of several separate carpels, or is apocarpous, there are generally separate placentas at each of their margins.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

The pistil is apocarpous, consisting of several distinct carpels, each with ovary, style and stigma.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

In the former case they are either apocarpous, of one mature carpel or of several separate free carpels; or syncarpous, of several carpels, more or less completely united.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various

In this case a syncarpous fruit has a tendency to become apocarpous.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various