vegetative
Pronunciation: /ˈvɛdʒɪtətɪv, -teɪtɪv/
adjective
- 1 Biology relating to or denoting reproduction or propagation achieved by asexual means, either naturally (budding, rhizomes, runners, bulbs, etc.) or artificially (grafting, layering, or taking cuttings): vegetative spores a vegetative replicating phase
- relating to or concerned with growth rather than sexual reproduction: environmental factors trigger the switch from vegetative to floral development
- 3 Medicine (of a person) alive but comatose and without apparent brain activity or responsiveness. See persistent vegetative state.

Origin:
late Middle English (in vegetative (sense 2)): from Old French vegetatif, -ive or medieval Latin vegetativus (see vegetate)