Definition of "etaerio" in English

noun

1. (botany) An aggregate fruit comprised of achenes, drupelets, follicles, or berries.

   • Sometimes the achenia are aggregated upon a common receptacle, forming what is called an etaerio, as in the ranunculus, in which they are placed upon a dry receptacle, or in the strawberry, in which the receptacle is fleshy.
   • 1953, John Melvin Lowson, Textbook of Botany, University Tutorial Press, page 318, Clematis: actinomorphic; 4 petaloid sepals; petals 0; fruit an etaerio of achenes with persistent hairy styles.