a. [ad. L. accrēscentem pr. pple. of accrēscĕre: see ACCRESCE.]
1. Growing continuously, ever increasing.
1753. Shuckford, Creation & Fall, 90 (R.). New appearances of accrescent variety and alteration.
2. Bot. Continuing to grow, growing larger after flowering; applied to those parts of the flower which normally fall off or wither after fertilization.
1857. Henfrey, Botany, 102. Occasionally [the calyx] grows during the maturation of the fruit, and is accrescent, forming … a vesicular envelope to the fruit.
1876. Oliver, Elem. Bot., 231. Observe the two accrescent (enlarging after flowering) bracteoles, replacing the perianth in the pistillate flowers of Orache.
