# acarpous

CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/acarpous
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

describing a plant that does not produce seeds or fruit. It is the opposite of a plant that can reproduce sexually.

For teachers: unable to produce seeds or fruit; lacking the ability to reproduce sexually. Often used in botanical contexts to describe sterile or non-flowering plants.

## Examples

- The acarpous plant cannot reproduce through seeds.
- In some hybrid species, the female parent is acarpous, meaning it cannot produce viable seeds despite having flowers.
- The study focused on acarpous specimens to understand how genetic mutations prevent the development of reproductive structures in certain rare orchid varieties.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.