heterophyllous

[het-er-uh-fil-uhs]

adjective

Botany.

1. having different kinds of leaves on the same plant.

heterophyllous

/ ˌhɛtəˈrɒfɪləs, ˌhɛtərəʊˈfɪləs /

adjective

1. Also: anisophyllous. (of plants such as arrowhead) having more than one type of leaf on the same plant

Other Word Forms

• heterophylly noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterophyllous¹

First recorded in 1820–30; hetero- + -phyllous

Example Sentences

Heterophyllous, with two sorts of leaves.

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Descriptive botanists recognise this occurrence in the case of leaves, and apply the epithet heterophyllous to plants possessed of these variable foliar characters.

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There is another variety which bears on the same tree differently shaped leaves, like the heterophyllous hornbeam; this tree is also remarkable from having pendulous branches, and bearing elongated, large, thin-shelled nuts.

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Such cases differ but little from the so- called heterophyllus varieties, in which the tree habitually bears leaves of various forms; but it is probable that most heterophyllous trees have originated as seedlings.

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