What does vegetatively mean?
Vegetatively is a formal adverb meaning “in a vegetative manner,” most often describing growth or propagation that does not involve sexual reproduction. In botany, a plant may reproduce vegetatively when a shoot, root, leaf, or rhizome develops into a new plant, as happens with many grasses, orchids, and strawberries. The same general idea applies to microorganisms that multiply through vegetative growth rather than the production of spores or other reproductive cells. In horticulture, vegetatively propagated plants can retain the genetic characteristics of their parent, including desirable traits that might not survive sexual reproduction. The adverb is therefore especially associated with cloning, plant propagation, and biological growth processes. Although its basic sense can mean growth or development generally, it most often carries the technical contrast between vegetative and sexual reproduction. It is uncommon in everyday conversation, where “by vegetative means” or “asexually” may sound more natural.
adverbIn a vegetative manner, especially by vegetative propagation or growth rather than by sexual reproduction.
- By vegetative propagation or growth, without sexual reproduction.
"Some orchids spread vegetatively through underground rhizomes."
"Some orchids spread vegetatively through underground rhizomes."
"The researchers compared plants grown vegetatively with those produced from seed."
A plant can clone itself vegetatively: no seed, no pollination, just a new shoot from the parent.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vegetatively come from?
Vegetatively was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to vegetative. Vegetative derives from Latin vegetativus, which was based on vegetare, “to grow” or “to become green,” the same Latin root found in vegetation, vegetate, and vegetable.
How vegetatively is actually used
This is chiefly a formal scientific term used in botany, horticulture, microbiology, and related fields. It usually contrasts vegetative reproduction or growth with sexual reproduction, and is less common in general speech.