Dormin

/ˈdɔːrmɪn/ noun

Definition

An outdated name for abscisic acid, a plant hormone that regulates stress responses and promotes dormancy in seeds and buds.

Etymology

From Latin dormire (to sleep) plus chemical suffix -in. Named in the 1930s by botanists who noticed it caused plants to enter dormant states.

Kelly Says

Scientists called it 'dormin' because they watched it literally put plants to sleep—it's how seeds know to stay dormant until spring arrives!

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