A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

neuter, neutra, neutrum (adj.A): neither the one nor the other, neither of two; e.g. neither male nor female; neutral; “sexless, as a flower which has neither stamens nor pistils” (Jackson); “without functional stamens or pistils” (Fernald 1950); see male, female;

- corollis florum exteriorum (neutrorum v. rarius femineorum ) iis disci majoribus regularibus v. varie irregularibus (B&H), with the corollae of the outer flowers (neuter or more rarely female) with those of the disc larger, regular or variously irregular.

- elytriculi marginales florum, neutri, integerrimi , plano-lanceolati ; centrales, monoclini, tubulati : ore 5-fido (Necker), the marginal florets of the flower, neuter [i.e. sexless], completely entire, flattened-lanceolate; the central monoclinous [i.e. perfect], tubulate; with the mouth 5-divided.

- floribus inferioribus neutris, staminodiis 10 longis coloratis basi monadelpbis (B&H), with the lower flowers neutral [i.e. neither male nor female], with the staminodes 10, long, colored, monadelphous at the base.

- flores sessiles, inferiores spicae cylindricae neutri staminodiis elongatis. (B&H), the flowers sessile, the lower of the cylindric spike neuter, with the staminodes elongate.

- flores sessiles, inferiores capituli globosi saepius masculi v. neutri. (B&H), the flowers sessile, the lower ones of the globose capitulum masculine or neuter.

- florum inferiorum neutrorum petala saepe libera, staminodia 10, longe monadelpha, superne libera filiformia colorata (B&H), the petals of the lower, neuter flowers often free, staminodia 10, long-monadelphous, above free, filiform, colored.

- flores superiores hermaphroditi, inferiores neutri (B&H), upper flowers hermaphrodite, the lower neuter.

- spiculae biflorae, flore inferiore masculo vel neutro, superiore hermaphrodito, nunc solitariae, nunc geminae vel plures congestae, spikelets 2-flowered with lower flower male of neuter, upper one hermaphrodite, now solitary, now paired or several crowded together (Stearn).

- flores radii neutri, ray flowers neutral.

- elytriculi singuli hermaphroditi; aiii neutri & feminei (Necker) single elytriculi [i.e. florets] hermaphrodite; others neuter and feminine.

- Ad M. connatam et M. elatam accedens. Neutrius specimina in diagnosin omnino quadrantia vidi. (F. Mueller), approaching to M. connata and M. elata. I have seen specimens of neither completely agreeing with the diagnosis.

- quin tirones acuto ingenio praediti, viri praecipue celeberrimi, in scientia maxime versati, sed neutri parti addicti de rebus integré judicantes (Necker), or even beginners provided with a sharp talent, especially eminent men, most greatly occupied with science, but in neither part devoted to judging things in an integrated manner.

- trichosporae dimorphae, neutrae collarem gerentes, trichospores dimorphous, neither bearing a collar.

- character diagnosticus speciei naturalis, a praecipuis & peculiaribus notis, quas proles & individua neutra ejusdem fpeciei proferunt, assumi debet,ut nobis indicavit natura (Necker), the distinguishing character of a natural species, from the specific and singular distinguishing marks which neither the offspring nor an individual of the same species reproduces, ought to be assumed, as indicated by us, to be as in nature.

Flos neuter, abl. sg. flore neutro, a sexless flower, “functionally asexual flower” (Jackson).

NOTE: cf. staminode: a sterile stamen, or any structure without anther corresponding to a stamen.