microspeciesn.
/ˈmʌɪkrə(ʊ)ˌspiːʃɪz/, /ˈmʌɪkrə(ʊ)ˌspiːsɪz/, U.S. /ˈmaɪkroʊˌspiʃiz/, /ˈmaɪkroʊˌspisiz/; see also species n. 1. Taxonomy. Chiefly Botany. A genetically distinct group of organisms within a species.Organisms of a microspecies are sometimes morphologically distinct, usually reproductively isolated, and often apomictic.
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the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [noun] > species or sub-species
shapec1400
species1608
subspecies1681
semispecies1825
infima species1843
conspeciesa1856
incipient species1859
relic1873
biological species1876
biological race1878
microspecies1897
clan1916
Jordanon1916
twin species1931
supraspecies1938
sibling species1940
species pair1942
phenon1943
biospecies1953
ochlospecies1962
1897 G. C. Druce Flora of Berks. 51 The other two species [of Erophila vulgaris]..are formed of two groups of the micro-species of Jordan, artificially arranged into two so-called species, the characters by which they are practically sorted into bundles being derived from the pods.
1916 J. P. Lotsy Evol. by Hybridization i. 22 They have subsequently been called: mikrospecies, Jordanian species, subspecies, small species or elementary species indiscriminately.
1920 New Phytologist 19 154 It is contended by many that the Jordanian practice of splitting the ‘Linnean species’ into innumerable forms or micro-species has, in many instances, been carried to an extreme.
1946 Nature 19 Oct. 535/2 The genus Psalliota..consists of ‘species’ or ‘microspecies’ extremely difficult to separate one from another.
1953 E. Mayr et al. Methods & Princ. Systematic Zool. ii. 39 Although conventionally referred to as races, reproductively isolated chromosomal populations are more logically designated (micro)species.
1963 P. H. Davis & V. H. Heywood Princ. Angiosperm Taxon. xiii. 425 In large critical groups of species the difficulty of deciding to which species various subspecies should be subordinated encourages the taxonomist (often against his inclinations) to maintain numerous microspecies.
1987 K. Rushforth Tree Planting & Managem. (1990) 204/1 These have hybridised to give a range of ‘microspecies’, with various extra sets of chromosomes.
1996 Ecology 77 2105 Differences..have been shown to contribute to the preservation of diverse Taraxacum genotypes and microspecies.
2. Chemistry. A compound differing from others of the same composition in some aspect of structure (esp. protonation).
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1958 Jrnl. Physical Chem. 62 429 The titration of the porphyrin free base to a monosalt and then to a disalt is expected to result in spectral changes according to the concentration of the three microspecies.
1976 Inorg. Chem. 15 2304 The more highly protonated ligands should be considered as thermodynamic entities each composed of several microspecies in equilibrium.
1997 Jrnl. Pharmaceutical Sci. 86 865/1 Several microspecies of a compound may exist in a protic solvent.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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