the condition in certain plants, such as primroses, of having styles of different lengths, each type of style in flowers on different plants, which promotes cross-pollination
Derived forms
heterostylous (ˌheteroˈstylous)
adjective
Word origin
C20: from Greek, from heteros different + stylos pillar
heterostyly in American English
(ˈhɛtəroʊˌstaɪli)
noun
the condition in which flowers on polymorphous plants have styles of different lengths, thereby encouraging cross-pollination