stigmates

Stigmates is a term that appears as the plural form of stigma in some languages or in certain transliterations of botanical Latin. In standard botanical Latin the singular is stigma and the commonly used plurals are stigmas or stigmata; the form stigmates is not typical in modern English botanical writing and may occur in non-English texts or older literature.

In botany, the stigma is the receptive surface at the tip of the pistil, the female part of a flower. Its primary function is to capture pollen and facilitate pollen germination and pollen tube growth toward the ovary. Stigmas can vary in texture and shape, being wet and glandular in some species or dry and feathery in others. Plants may have a single stigma, or multiple stigmas associated with multiple pistils or multiple flowers on a plant, which could lead to multiple stigmates within a study or description.

Beyond botany, stigma refers to social phenomena. In sociology and public health, a stigma is a mark of disgrace that discredits an individual or group, often based on health status, behavior, or identity. Stigmatization can affect self-esteem, access to services, and social interactions. Researchers study how labeling, stereotyping, and discrimination contribute to stigma and explore strategies to reduce its negative impacts through education, policy, and inclusive practices.

Etymologically, stigma derives from Latin and Greek roots meaning mark or sign. In scientific writing, accurate plural forms depend on language conventions: stigmas or stigmata are standard in English, while stigmates may appear in non-English contexts or as a historical variant. See also stigma, pollination, and social stigma.