http://www.life.uiuc.edu/plantbio/digitalflowers/Iridaceae/5.htm

Today’s ref by Anu to an illustration of the meaning of equitant leaf formation led me to consider some interesting language growths – the page used a word that was teasingly ‘not quite known’ to me! I thought some of you might want to share…

Adnate
Pertaining to part of a structure of an organ that connects itself to a completely different organ.

http://biology-online.org/dictionary.asp?Term=Adnate


So that’s what the specialists mean by it. Cross checking with MW:

Main Entry: ad•nate
Pronunciation: 'ad-"nAt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin adnatus, adgnatus, past participle of adgnasci to be born in addition, grow later -- more at AGNATE
Date: 1661
: grown to a usually unlike part especially along a margin <a calyx adnate to the ovary>
- ad•na•tion /ad-'nA-sh&n/ noun


So let’s take a look at this adnate growth from the same rootstock:

Main Entry: ag•nate
Pronunciation: 'ag-"nAt
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin agnatus, from past participle of agnasci to be born in addition to, from ad- + nasci to be born -- more at NATION
Date: 1534
1 : a relative whose kinship is traceable exclusively through males
2 : a paternal kinsman

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=agnateBottom of Form


why do the nations conspire… -- Psalms 2:1



hmmmm, nate ~ nation ~ nately…. innately time to read Catch 22 again!