[ad. L. frūctificātiōn-em, f. frūctificāre to FRUCTIFY.]
1. The action or process of fructifying or producing fruit (now rare exc. Bot.). Also fecundation, fertilization (? obs.).
1615. Jackson, Creed, IV. II. vi. § 3. When the first seeds of that faith, which … by fructification … becomes salvifical, are first sown in our hearts.
1632. Marmion, Holland’s Leaguer, IV. i. Wholly given To the deeds of fructification.
1635. Swan, Spec. M., vi. § 4 (1643), 236, heading. Concerning the sprouting, springing, and fructification of the earth.
1650. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xxi. (1658), 198. As may be discovered from several Insects generated in rain water, from the prevalent fructification of plants thereby.
a. 1665. J. Goodwin, Filled w. the Spirit (1867), 483. They may indeed be sowed too thick with seed of another nature, which may hinder the fructification thereof.
1759. trans. Duhamel’s Husb., II. xv. (1762), 91. How this mouldiness should affect only the organs of fructification, so as entirely to destroy them, without doing any sensible injury to the rest of the plant, is not easily accounted for.
1822–34. Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), IV. 10. The plants of the feeblest structure die, as soon as fructification has taken place.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. 73. At the time of fructification, watch the plants daily.
fig. 1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. § 4. 253. Giving is a free translation of the right or title, of dominion … or fructification of anything to any man.
1721. R. Keith, trans. T. à Kempis Solil. Soul, xvi. 229. Temptation is wont to be very helpful … to the Fructification of Virtues.
1892. Pall Mall G., 13 Sept., 3/3. As regards the fructification of their estate, there is all the difference in the world between the value of arable as distinguished from mere grazing land.
2. concr. in Bot. a. The fruit of a plant; b. collect. the organs of fruiting or reproduction, esp. the reproductive parts of ferns and mosses.
1764. J. Grainger, The Sugar Cane, I. note, 6. That part of the Cane which shoots up into the fructification, is called by planters its Arrow.
1767. P. Collinson, in Darlington’s Mem. (1849), 292. The Wild Lime is a singular plant. Dr. Solander wishes for its fructifications.
1791. E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., II. Pref. The families or Genera are characterized by the analogy of all the parts of the flower or fructification.
1864. T. Moore, Brit. Ferns, 11. Collectively, these cases and their contents are called the fructification.
1877. F. Heath, Fern W., 294. Nearly the whole under side of the frond is covered with the fructification.
1882. Vines, Sachs’ Bot., 95. This is usually the case … with many Lichens and the fructifications of Fungi.
