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antheridium

[an-thuh-rid-ee-uh m]
noun, plural an·ther·id·i·a [an-thuh-rid-ee-uh] /ˌæn θəˈrɪd i ə/. Botany, Mycology.
  1. a male reproductive structure producing gametes, occurring in ferns, mosses, fungi, and algae.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for antheridium

Historical Examples

  • The index reference for "Antheridium" should probably be 159, rather than 150, but was not changed.

    The Elements of Botany

    Asa Gray

  • A fruiting portion, magnified, showing the structure; a sporocarp, and an antheridium.

  • The antheridium consists at first of a basal cell and a terminal one.

  • These cells, especially the outer ones, develop a great amount of a red pigment, giving the antheridium its characteristic color.

  • The male plant has no definite stem, and consists of a single concave leaf protecting the antheridium.

British Dictionary definitions for antheridium

antheridium

noun plural -ia (-ɪə)
  1. the male sex organ of algae, fungi, bryophytes, and spore-bearing vascular plants, such as ferns, which produces antherozoids
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Derived Formsantheridial, adjective

Word Origin

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
antheridium in Science

antheridium

[ăn′thə-rĭd′ē-əm]
Plural antheridia (ăn′thə-rĭd′ē-ə)
  1. 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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.