prothallium

[ proh-thal-ee-uhm ]

noun,plural pro·thal·li·a [proh-thal-ee-uh]. /proʊˈθæl i ə/.
  1. Botany. the gametophyte of ferns and related plants.

  2. the analogous rudimentary gametophyte of seed-bearing plants.

Origin of prothallium

1
1855–60; <New Latin <Greek pro-pro-2 + thallíon, diminutive of thallós young shoot; see -ium

Other words from prothallium

  • pro·thal·li·al, pro·thal·lic, pro·thal·line [proh-thal-een, -ahyn], /proʊˈθæl in, -aɪn/, adjective
  • pro·thal·loid, adjective

Words Nearby prothallium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

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