a. Bot. [mod.L., f. TETRA- + Gr. γυνή woman, female, taken in sense ‘female organ, pistil.’] The name of an order or division in many of the classes of the Linnæan Sexual System of plants, comprising those having four pistils. Hence Tetragyn (rare), a plant of this order; Tetragynian, Tetragynious, Tetragynous adjs., belonging to this order of any class; having four pistils.

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1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., II. viii. (1765), 92. Tetragynia, comprehending such Plants as have four Styles.

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1828.  Webster, Tetragyn … in botany, a plant having four pistils. Tetragynian, having four pistils.

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1860.  Mayne, Expos. Lex., Tetragynius,… tetragynious.

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1899.  Syd. Soc. Lex., Tetragynous, having a gynecium of four carpels.

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Mod.  Ilex, the Holly, is an example of Tetrandria, Tetragynia.

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