autogamy

noun

au·​tog·​a·​my ȯ-ˈtä-gə-mē 

: self-fertilization: such as

a

: pollination of a flower by its own pollen

b

: conjugation of two sister cells or sister nuclei of protozoans or fungi

autogamous

ȯ-ˈtä-gə-məs 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Autogamie, from auto- auto- + -gamie -gamy

Note: The term was introduced by the Austrian botanist Anton Kerner von Marilaun (1831-98) in Die Schutzmitteln der Blüthen gegen unberufene Gäste (Innsbruck, 1876), p. 6.

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

autogamy

noun

au·​tog·​a·​my ȯ-ˈtäg-ə-mē 

plural autogamies

: self-fertilization

especially : conjugation of two sister cells or sister nuclei of protozoans or fungi

autogamous

-məs 

adjective