cryptogam

American  

[krip-tuh-gam] / ˈkrɪp təˌgæm /

noun

Botany.

1. any of the Cryptogamia, a former primary division of plants that have no true flowers or seeds and that reproduce by spores, as the ferns, mosses, fungi, and algae.

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cryptogam British  

/ krɪpˈtɒɡəməs, ˈkrɪptəʊˌɡæm /

noun

1. (in former plant classification schemes) any organism that does not produce seeds, including algae, fungi, mosses, and ferns Compare phanerogam

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Other Word Forms

• cryptogamic adjective
• cryptogamical adjective
• cryptogamist noun
• cryptogamous adjective
• cryptogamy noun

Etymology

Origin of cryptogam

From the New Latin word Cryptogamia, dating back to 1840–50. See crypto-, -gamy

Example Sentences

This is found in many phanerogams and cryptogams.

From Project Gutenberg

Selaginella, sē-laj-i-nel′a, n. a genus of heterosporous cryptogams, allied to club-moss.

From Project Gutenberg

The saline incrustations, fungi and stalagmites, rapidly changed in appearance, an endless variety of stony figures and vegetable cryptogams recurring successively before my eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

The lower forms of the cryptogams, the lichens and the fungi, abound in greatest profusion as might be expected.

From Project Gutenberg

But this vegetation consisted principally of cryptogams and those lowest phænogams, of the pine and cycad groups, which have naked seeds.

From Project Gutenberg