Bot. [mod.L. (Linnæus, 1735), f. Gr. τετρα-, TETRA- + ἀνδρ-, stem of ἀνήρ man, male: cf. POLYANDRIA, etc.] The fourth class in the Linnæan Sexual System, comprising plants bearing hermaphrodite flowers with four equal stamens. Also an order in the classes Gynandria, Monœcia, and Diœcia, having four stamens. So Tetrander, a plant having four stamens (Webster, 1828); Tetrandrian a., having four stamens (ibid.); Tetrandrious (Mayne, 1860), Tetrandrous adjs., having four equal stamens; belonging to the class Tetrandria.

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1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., II. xxiii. (1765), 130. Tetrandria, comprehending such Plants as have four Stamina.

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1806.  J. Galpine, Brit. Bot., 261. Tetrandrous: spikes filiform, panicled.

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1830.  Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 72. Penæa has also tetrandrous flowers.

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1872.  Oliver, Elem. Bot., I. iv. 39. In the Nettle, then, we have … in the male flower, stamens hypogynous, tetrandrous.

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