Autoecous

/ɔːˈtiːkuːs/ adjective

Definition

A variant form of autoecious; relating to parasitic organisms that spend their entire life cycle on a single host species.

Etymology

From auto- + Greek oikos 'house.' This is an alternative adjectival form of the same concept, used interchangeably with autoecious in botanical literature.

Kelly Says

Scientists sometimes can't agree on how to say the same thing, so we get autoecious AND autoecous—both describing the same fungi stubbornly refusing to leave home. It's a reminder that language in science isn't always standardized.

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