partheno

Partheno is a combining form derived from the Greek parthenos, meaning virgin. It is used in various scientific terms to denote virginity or origin without fertilization, and it typically appears in compound words rather than as a standalone noun.

In biology, partheno appears most prominently in parthenogenesis, the development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg. Parthenogenesis occurs in a range of organisms, including many invertebrates such as aphids and rotifers, and is known in some vertebrates, such as certain lizards and fish. In plants, related terms describe processes that bypass fertilization entirely, yielding seedless fruits via parthenocarpy.

Parthenocarpy refers specifically to fruit development without fertilization, producing seedless varieties. Examples include some cultivars of bananas, cucumbers, and grapes. Adjectival forms include parthenogenetic (describing organisms that reproduce by parthenogenesis) and parthenocarpic (describing fruit formed without fertilization).

The root partheno also appears in cultural references connected to the Greek word for virgin, most famously in the name Parthenon, the temple of the goddess Athena in Athens. While the root is common in scientific terminology, partheno is not used as an independent term outside of these compound formations.

See also: parthenogenesis, parthenocarpy, parthenogenetic, parthenocarpic, Parthenon.