Phytohormones
/ˌfaɪtoʊˈhɔːrmoʊnz/noun
Plant hormones that regulate growth, development, and responses to the environment.
Did you know?The first element, phyto-, comes from Greek phyton meaning “plant,” while hormone ultimately comes from Greek horman, “to set in motion” — so the word literally names the chemicals that “set plants in motion.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
phyton
“plant”
Ancient Greek
Greek
horman
“to set in motion, urge on”
1900s
French
hormone
“a chemical messenger produced in one part of an organism and acting in another”
Early 20th Century
English
phyto-
“combining form meaning plant”
20th Century
English
phytohormone
“a plant growth-regulating chemical”
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