antheridium

American  

[an-thuh-rid-ee-uhm] / ˌæn θəˈrɪd i əm /

noun

Botany, Mycology.

plural

antheridia

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

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antheridium British  

/ ˌænθəˈrɪdɪəm /

noun

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

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antheridium Scientific  

/ ăn′thə-rĭd′ē-əm /

plural

antheridia

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.

2. Compare archegonium

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Other Word Forms

• antheridial adjective

Etymology

Origin of antheridium

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

Example Sentences

At fertilization, the antheridium and the ascogonium combine in plasmogamy without nuclear fusion.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The “male” strain produces an antheridium and the “female” strain develops an ascogonium.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

In a process called plasmogamy, the ascogonium and antheridium fuse to form a cell with multiple haploid nuclei.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The sperm need all the help they can get in moving toward the egg, seldom travelling more than four inches from the structure called an antheridium that produced them.

From Scientific American • Jul. 28, 2012

The fructification consists of a globular sporocarp of considerable size, which is spirally enwrapped by tubular cells twisted around it: by the side of this is a smaller and globular antheridium.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa