gemma

American  

[jem-uh] / ˈdʒɛm ə /

noun

gemmae plural

1. a bud.

2. Botany. a cell or cluster of cells, or a leaflike or budlike body, that separates from the parent plant to form a new organism, as in mosses and liverworts.

3. Zoology. gemmule.

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gemma British  

/ dʒɛˈmeɪʃəs, ˈdʒɛmə /

noun

1. a small asexual reproductive structure in liverworts, mosses, etc, that becomes detached from the parent and develops into a new individual

2. zoology another name for gemmule

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gemma Scientific  

/ jĕm′ə /

gemmae plural

1. A budlike mass of undifferentiated tissue which serves as a means of vegetative reproduction among mosses and liverworts. The gemmae, often formed in structures called gemma cups, are usually dispersed from the parent plant by the splashing of raindrops, after which they develop into new individuals.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gemmaceous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• gemmae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gemma

First recorded in 1760–70; from Latin: “bud, jewel”; see gem

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gemma gemmae

Many phænogams have gemma in addition to sexes, so have Hepaticæ. 

From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William

Gem, or Gemmule, from the Latin gemma, a bud.

From Principles of Geology or, The Modern Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants Considered as Illustrative of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

Will any one show me an instance of a proved gemma taking upon itself the form of one of these anthers? 

From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William

Left: Vorticella microstoma, showing alimentary tube, ciliated mouth, and formation of a gemma at the base, 300 linear.—Stein.

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

The frond grows from a flat disc-shaped gemma, the two sides of which are alike.

From Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative, Vol. I by Spencer, Herbert

"To do so we made use of two systems: gemmae of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, and the early-stage first true leaf of Arabidopsis thaliana."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2023

"We first characterised the growth and cell division pattern in M. polymorpha gemmae, which was still unclear in the literature," said Dr Bonfanti.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2023

The gemmae then land nearby and develop into gametophytes.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Liverwort plants can also reproduce asexually, by the breaking of branches or the spreading of leaf fragments called gemmae.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Usually the gemmae arise by the outgrowth of superficial cells, and become free by breaking away from their stalk.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various