Definition

In botany, the state or quality of having separate carpels in a flower, rather than fused together.

Example

The flower exhibits apocarpy, with each carpel developing independently.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term apocarpy?

I think so, but I’m not sure what it means exactly.

It's about plants that have separate carpels, like some flowers.

That sounds interesting! I love learning new things about botany.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Apocarpy is formed from "apo-" (meaning away from) and "carpium" (from Greek "karpos", meaning fruit). The term describes a condition in botany where the carpels of a flower are separate rather than fused together, indicating a structure that is 'away from' or distinct from one another.

Memory Tip

Think of 'apo-' meaning 'away from' and 'karpos' meaning 'fruit' to remember that apocarpy refers to fruits that are separate from each other.

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