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The production, through a modification of the meiotic process, of an unusual number of spores (usually two) instead of the four normally formed from each spore mother cell. It is seen in the formation of megaspores in dandelions (Taraxacum) where, after the first meiotic division the chromosomes stay in the one cell forming a restitution nucleus. The second meiotic division gives rise to two cells each with an unreduced number of chromosomes. On of these develops parthenogenetically into an embryo. Crossing over and hence reassortment of the genes can occur during the first meiotic division. This accounts for some of the variation found in apomictic complexes that have arisen by aneuspory.
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