sporophyte

noun

spo·​ro·​phyte ˈspȯr-ə-ˌfīt How to pronounce sporophyte (audio)
plural sporophytes
: the diploid, multicellular, asexual reproductive stage in plants and algae that develops from the zygote and that produces spores
The plants most people readily recognize as ferns actually are the sporophytes; the gametophyte may be completely overlooked as green fuzz growing on the side of the pot.Donald E. Fosket
compare gametophyte
sporophytic adjective
sporophytic growth of a plant

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sporophyte was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near sporophyte

Cite this Entry

“Sporophyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporophyte. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sporophyte

noun
spo·​ro·​phyte ˈspōr-ə-ˌfīt How to pronounce sporophyte (audio)
ˈspȯr-
: the individual or generation of a plant having alternating sexual and asexual generations that produces asexual spores compare gametophyte

Medical Definition

sporophyte

noun
spo·​ro·​phyte -ˌfīt How to pronounce sporophyte (audio)
: an individual or generation of a plant exhibiting alternation of generations that bears asexual spores, is usually not clearly differentiated in algae and fungi, and in vascular plants is the conspicuous form ordinarily seen compare gametophyte
sporophytic adjective

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