Merosity (from the greek "méros," which means "having parts") refers to the number of component parts in a distinct whorl of a plant structure.[1] The term is most commonly used in the context of a flower where it refers to the number of sepals in a whorl of the calyx, the number of petals in a whorl of the corolla, the number of stamens in a whorl of the androecium, or the number of carpels in a whorl of the gynoecium. The term may also be used to refer to the number of leaves in a leaf whorl.
Noun
Adjective
2 parts
dimery
dimerous, 2-merous
3 parts
trimery
trimerous, 3-merous
4 parts
tetramery
tetramerous, 4-merous
5 parts
pentamery
pentamerous, 5-merous
many parts
polymery
polymerous
few parts
oligomery
oligomerous
The adjective n-merous refers to a whorl of n parts, where n is any integer greater than one.
In nature, five or three parts per whorl have the highest frequency of occurrence, but four or two parts per whorl are not uncommon. Two consecutive whorls of dimerous petals are often mistaken for tetramerous petals.[1]
If all of the whorls in a given floral arrangement have the same merosity, the flower is said to be isomerous, otherwise the flower is anisomerous.[2] For example, Trillium is isomerous since all whorls are trimerous (one whorl of three sepals, zero or one whorl of three petals, two whorls of three stamens each, and one whorl of three carpels). Trillium also has one whorl of three leaves.
Noun
Adjective
equal parts
isomery
isomerous
unequal parts
anisomery
anisomerous
Galleryedit
Trimerous flower of Tulipa clusiana (the three sepals resemble petals)
^ abRonse Decraene, L. P.; Smets, E. F. (1994). "Merosity in flowers: definition, origin, and taxonomic significance". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 191 (1–2): 83–104. doi:10.1007/BF00985344. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
^Eckel, P. M. "A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin". Retrieved 22 November 2019.
February 16, 2024
merosity, from, greek, méros, which, means, having, parts, refers, number, component, parts, distinct, whorl, plant, structure, term, most, commonly, used, context, flower, where, refers, number, sepals, whorl, calyx, number, petals, whorl, corolla, number, st. Merosity from the greek meros which means having parts refers to the number of component parts in a distinct whorl of a plant structure 1 The term is most commonly used in the context of a flower where it refers to the number of sepals in a whorl of the calyx the number of petals in a whorl of the corolla the number of stamens in a whorl of the androecium or the number of carpels in a whorl of the gynoecium The term may also be used to refer to the number of leaves in a leaf whorl Noun Adjective2 parts dimery dimerous 2 merous3 parts trimery trimerous 3 merous4 parts tetramery tetramerous 4 merous5 parts pentamery pentamerous 5 merousmany parts polymery polymerousfew parts oligomery oligomerousThe adjective n merous refers to a whorl of n parts where n is any integer greater than one In nature five or three parts per whorl have the highest frequency of occurrence but four or two parts per whorl are not uncommon Two consecutive whorls of dimerous petals are often mistaken for tetramerous petals 1 If all of the whorls in a given floral arrangement have the same merosity the flower is said to be isomerous otherwise the flower is anisomerous 2 For example Trillium is isomerous since all whorls are trimerous one whorl of three sepals zero or one whorl of three petals two whorls of three stamens each and one whorl of three carpels Trillium also has one whorl of three leaves Noun Adjectiveequal parts isomery isomerousunequal parts anisomery anisomerousGallery edit nbsp Trimerous flower of Tulipa clusiana the three sepals resemble petals nbsp Tetramerous flower of Correa alba nbsp Pentamerous flower of Crassula ovataSee also editCyclic flower Floral diagram Floral formulaReferences edit a b Ronse Decraene L P Smets E F 1994 Merosity in flowers definition origin and taxonomic significance Plant Systematics and Evolution 191 1 2 83 104 doi 10 1007 BF00985344 Retrieved 22 November 2019 Eckel P M A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin Retrieved 22 November 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merosity amp oldid 1191135995, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
