proliferous Meaning, Definition & Usage

L. proles offspring + -ferous.

(Bot.) Bearing offspring; -- applied to a flower from within which another is produced, or to a branch or frond from which another rises, or to a plant which is reproduced by buds or gemmæ.
(Zoöl.) (a) Producing young by budding. (b) Producing sexual zooids by budding; -- said of the blastostyle of a hydroid. (c) Producing a cluster of branchlets from a larger branch; -- said of corals. Paget. -- Pro*lif"er*ous*ly, adv.