octomerous

Octomerous refers to a characteristic found in biological organisms where they possess parts, typically floral organs, arranged in sets of eight. This term is most commonly used in botany to describe the number of petals, sepals, or stamens in a flower. While less common than terms like pentamerous (five parts) or trimerous (three parts), octomerous arrangements do occur in nature, though often as variations or anomalies rather than a consistent species-wide trait.

When describing a flower as octomerous, it implies a symmetry or organization based on the number eight. For instance, an octomerous flower would have eight petals or eight sepals. This numerical arrangement can be a distinguishing feature for identification purposes, though botanists often consider such specific numbers within a broader family or genus classification. Occasionally, what appears octomerous might be the result of secondary splitting of organs, where an original set of four or fewer parts has duplicated to reach eight. Therefore, while the term describes the observable count, understanding the developmental origin can provide further botanical insight. The occurrence of octomerous structures is generally considered less frequent than other numerical patterns in the plant kingdom.