Androgenous

/ænˈdrɒdʒɪnəs/ adjective

Definition

Having both male and female characteristics or sexual organs; another word for hermaphroditic.

Etymology

From Greek 'andro-' (male) + '-genous' (producing/having). An older term in biological taxonomy that was gradually replaced by more precise modern terminology.

Kelly Says

This archaic term shows how scientists originally struggled to describe organisms that broke their either/or categories—many plants are androgenous with both pollen-producing and seed-producing parts, making them nature's multitaskers.

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