heterothallic

adjective

het·​ero·​thal·​lic ˌhe-tə-rō-ˈtha-lik 

1

: having two or more morphologically similar haploid phases or types of which individuals from the same type are mutually sterile but individuals from different types are cross-fertile

heterothallic fungi

heterothallic spores

2

: dioecious

heterothallism

ˌhe-tə-rō-ˈtha-ˌli-zəm 

noun

Word History

Etymology

heter- + thallus + -ic

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

heterothallic

adjective

het·​ero·​thal·​lic -ˈthal-ik 

: having two or more morphologically similar haploid phases or types of which individuals from the same type are mutually sterile but individuals from different types are cross-fertile

heterothallism

-ˈthal-ˌiz-əm 

noun