Prionitis lanceolata
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Glossary
basiphyte– substrate for an epiphytic plant
carpogonium– haploid female gamete
carposporophyte– diploid plant that bears diploid carpospores, remains embedded in gametophyte
conceptacle– a reproductive chamber sunken into the algal tissue with a surface opening (ostiole)
cortex– outermost layer of plant tissue
cruciate– describes the dividing pattern of tetraspores, divided in two planes at right angles to one another forming a "cross" shape
dioecious– having male and female reproductive structures on separate individual plants
gametophyte– haploid plant that bears haploid gametes, male and female
medulla– innermost layer of plant tissue
multiaxial– having a medulla with a central core of several parallel longitudinal filaments
nemathecium– wart-like elevation bearing reproductive structures
oogamy– fertilization in which sperm fertilizes a large, non-motile egg
perennial– living for more than one year
pinnate– feather-like branching pattern
pinnule– side branching that forms a feather-like pattern
pyrenoid– an organelle often associated with reserve food accumulation in starch plates
rhizome– root-like structures
sorus– a cluster of reproductive structures not raised above the surface, occur internally in some red algae
spermatangium– a cell that produces a single spermatium
spermatium– haploid male gamete, does not have flagella
stipe– algal equivalent of a stem
substratum– surface upon which algae attach and grow
tetrasporangium– structure where four haploid spores are formed due to meiotic division
tetrasporophyte– diploid plant that bears haploid tetraspores
thallus– the plant body of an alga
Created by Alice Chiu, 2003. Images may be used with permission.