endothecium

American  

[en-doh-thee-shee-uhm, -see-uhm] / ˌɛn doʊˈθi ʃi əm, -si əm /

noun

Botany.

endothecia plural

1. the lining of the cavity of an anther.

2. (in mosses) the central mass of cells in the rudimentary capsule, from which the archespore is generally developed.

3. (in bryophytes) the central mass of cells in the capsule, including the spores and columella.

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endothecium British  

/ -sɪəm, ˌɛndəʊˈθiːʃɪəm /

noun

1. the inner mass of cells of the developing capsule in mosses

2. the fibrous tissue of the inner wall of an anther

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• endothecial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• endothecia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of endothecium

First recorded in 1825–35; endo- + thecium