In botany, describing an ovule or seed that is bent so that it is neither straight nor completely inverted, growing at an angle to its attachment point.
From Greek 'hetero-' (different) and 'trop-' (turning/direction), describing seeds that turn in an atypical direction during development.
Plants have evolved incredibly diverse seed orientations—some hang straight, some flip upside down, and heterotropal seeds do something in between, likely helping them fit into tight spaces or respond to gravity differently.
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