parthenogenesis /(pär`thē̇*nō̇*jĕn"ē̇*sĭs)/
par·the·no·gen·e·sis
parthenogenesis
n.
- The production of new individuals from virgin females by means of ova which have the power of developing without the intervention of the male element; the production, without fertilization, of cells capable of germination. It is one of the phenomena of alternate generation. Cf. Heterogamy, and Metagenesis. (Biol.)
- The production of seed without fertilization, believed to occur through the nonsexual formation of an embryo extraneous to the embryonic vesicle. (Bot.)