Agamospermy

/æɡəmoʊˈspɜːrmi/ noun

Definition

A type of asexual reproduction in plants where seeds are produced without fertilization, creating genetically identical copies of the parent plant.

Etymology

From Greek 'agamos' (asexual) plus 'spermy' (from 'sperma,' meaning seed). The term literally means 'asexual seed production' and was coined in the late 1800s.

Kelly Says

Some dandelions and grasses use agamospermy to colonize areas incredibly fast—they produce seeds without needing pollen from another plant, which is why a single dandelion can create hundreds of genetically identical offspring!

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