Autocarpous

/ˌɔːtəˈkɑːrpəs/ adjective

Definition

Describing a plant that naturally produces fruit from its own flowers without needing pollination from another plant of the same species.

Etymology

From auto- (self) + carpous (from Greek karpos, fruit, + -ous meaning having the quality of). Combines Greek botanical terminology with English adjectival suffixes.

Kelly Says

The -ous suffix is super common in botanical Latin terms, and it's still how scientists describe plant characteristics—it sounds fancy but it just means 'having that fruit-making ability!'

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