gynoecious
|gyn-oe-cious|
🇺🇸
/ˌɡaɪnoʊˈiːʃəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌɡaɪnəʊˈiːʃəs/
female-only flowers
Etymology
'gynoecious' originates from New Latin 'gynoecius', ultimately from Greek 'gynē' meaning 'woman, female' and 'oikos' meaning 'house'.
'gynē' + 'oikos' formed botanical New Latin 'gynoecius' (used to describe 'female house'), which was adopted into modern English as 'gynoecious'.
Initially it conveyed the idea of a 'female house' (structure bearing female flowers); over time it came to be used more specifically for plants that bear only female flowers.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having only female (pistillate) flowers or the female reproductive organs; applied to plants in which all flowers are female.
Breeders often use gynoecious lines to increase fruit production in certain crops.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/25 17:17