anamorphosis

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An image that appears distorted unless it is viewed from a special angle or with a special instrument.
2. n. The production of such an image.
3. n. Evolutionary increase in complexity of form and function.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In perspec., a method of drawing which gives a distorted image of the object represented when it is viewed directly or nearly so, but a natural image when it is viewed from a certain point, is reflected by a curved mirror, or is seen through a polyhedron.
2. n. In botany, an anomalous or monstrous development of any part of a plant, owing to some unusual condition affecting growth, so that it presents an appearance altogether unlike the typical form, as when the calyx of a rose assumes the form of leaf. Lichens are so liable to this change of form from modifications of climate, soil, etc., that some varieties have been placed in three or four different, genera.
3. n. In zoology and botany, the gradual change of form, generally ascending, traced in a group of animals or plants the members of which succeed each other in point of time. Thus, the earlier members of any group observed in the lower geological formations are by some said to be of a lower type than, and in point of development inferior to, their analogues in more recent strata or among living forms; but this has been controverted, especially by opponents of Darwinism.
4. n. In senses 2 and 3 also called anamorphism.

Wiktionary

1. n. A distorted image of an object that may be viewed correctly from a specific angle or with a specific mirror
2. n. biology a form of limited metamorphosis in some arthropods
3. n. botany an abnormal form of some lichens or fungi that gives the appearance of a different species

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Persp.) A distorted or monstrous projection or representation of an image on a plane or curved surface, which, when viewed from a certain point, or as reflected from a curved mirror or through a polyhedron, appears regular and in proportion; a deformation of an image.
2. n. (Biol.) Same as Anamorphism, 2.
3. n. (Bot.) A morbid or monstrous development, or change of form, or degeneration.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the evolution of one type of organism from another by a long series of gradual changes
2. n. a distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner