haustorium

noun

haus·​to·​ri·​um hȯ-ˈstȯr-ē-əm 

plural haustoria hȯ-ˈstȯr-ē-ə 

: a nutrient-absorbing outgrowth of a fungus or parasitic plant that penetrates the tissues of the host organism

Note: Haustoria arise from the hyphae in fungi and from the roots or stems of parasitic plants (such as dodder and mistletoe).

Examples of haustorium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All pierce their host plants with a structure called a haustorium, which then steals water and nutrients for the mistletoe. —Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2015

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin haurire

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

haustorium

noun

haus·​to·​ri·​um hȯ-ˈstōr-ē-əm, -ˈstȯr- 

plural haustoria -ē-ə 

: a food-absorbing outgrowth of a plant organ (as a hypha or stem)

haustorial

-ē-əl 

adjective