sorus

noun

so·​rus ˈsȯr-əs 

plural sori ˈsȯr-ˌī 

-ˌē

: a cluster of plant reproductive bodies: such as

a

: a cluster of sporangia on the underside of a fertile fern frond

b

: a mass of spores bursting through the epidermis of the host plant of a parasitic fungus

c

: a cluster of gemmae on the thallus of a lichen

Examples of sorus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last fall, divers couldn’t find any sorus tissue in the usual spots. —Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2022

Just 4 pounds of sorus can seed 30,000 pounds of kelp for harvest. —BostonGlobe.com, 26 June 2021

Fishermen place spore-holding sorus tissue along lengths of rope and submerge them, letting Mother Nature do the rest. —BostonGlobe.com, 26 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek sōros heap

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sorus

noun

so·​rus ˈsōr-əs 

ˈsȯr-

plural sori ˈsō(ə)r-ˌī 

ˈsȯ(ə)r-,

-ˌē

: any of the dots on the underside of a fertile fern frond consisting of a cluster of spores