Ametoecious

/ˌæmɪˈtiːʃəs/ adjective

Definition

In botany and mycology, describing parasitic fungi or plants that complete their entire life cycle on a single host species without requiring an intermediate host.

Etymology

From Greek 'a-' (not) + 'meta-' (change) + 'oikos' (house, habitat) + '-ious' (adjective suffix). The term emerged in plant pathology to distinguish parasites with simple versus complex life cycles.

Kelly Says

Most rusts and blights require two completely different plant hosts to complete their life cycle—like a parasite playing tag between a wheat field and a barberry bush—but ametoecious ones cheat and just stay on one plant the whole time.

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