antheridium

[ an-thuh-rid-ee-uh m ]

/ ˌæn θəˈrɪd i əm /

noun, plural an·ther·id·i·a [an-thuh-rid-ee-uh] /ˌæn θəˈrɪd i ə/. Botany, Mycology.

a male reproductive structure producing gametes, occurring in ferns, mosses, fungi, and algae.

Nearby words

anthemic, anthemion, anthemius of tralles, anther, antheridiophore, antheridium, antherozoid, anthesis, anthesteria, anthill, antho-

Origin of antheridium

From New Latin, dating back to 1850–55; see origin at anther, -idium

Related formsan·ther·id·i·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for antheridia

Among the antheridia are borne peculiar hairs (Fig. 59, p) tipped by a large globular cell.
Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany|Douglas Houghton Campbell
De Bary and Pringsheim believe that these organs constitute the antheridia of the species of Saprolegnia to which they belong.
Fungi: Their Nature and Uses|Mordecai Cubitt Cooke
The superficial layer of cells bounding the cavity does not break down until the antheridia are nearly mature.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
Antheridia 3–20, in the axils of small saccate leaves, which are scarcely imbricate or crowded into terminal heads.
The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States|Asa Gray

The same moisture which caused the antheridia to open also brings about the opening of the archegonia.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin

British Dictionary definitions for antheridia

antheridium

/ (ˌænθəˈrɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -ia (-ɪə)

the male sex organ of algae, fungi, bryophytes, and spore-bearing vascular plants, such as ferns, which produces antherozoids

Derived Formsantheridial, adjective

Word Origin for antheridium

C19: from New Latin, diminutive of anthēra anther

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for antheridia

antheridium

[ ăn′thə-rĭd′ē-əm ]

Plural antheridia (ăn′thə-rĭd′ē-ə)

An organ in certain organisms that produces male gametes. Antheridia are found in many groups of organisms, including the bryophytes, ferns, ascomycete fungi, and some algae. Most gymnosperms and all angiosperms, however, have lost the antheridium, and its role is filled by the pollen grain. Compare archegonium.