Acarpous

/eɪˈkɑrpəs/ adjective

Definition

Not producing fruit; describing plants or flowers that cannot develop seeds or fruits.

Etymology

From a- (without) + carpo- (fruit, from Greek karpos) + -ous (characterized by). Used in botany since the 1700s.

Kelly Says

Bananas are famously acarpous—the ones we eat have no seeds at all because we've bred them that way over thousands of years, making them sterile but seedless and perfect for eating!

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