heterosporous

American  

[het-uh-ros-puh-ruhs, het-er-uh-spawr-uhs, -spohr-] / ˌhɛt əˈrɒs pə rəs, ˌhɛt ər əˈspɔr əs, -ˈspoʊr- /

adjective

Botany.

1. having more than one kind of spore.

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heterosporous British  

/ ˌhɛtəˈrɒspərəs /

adjective

1. (of seed plants and some ferns and club mosses) producing megaspores and microspores Compare homosporous

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heterosporous Scientific  

/ hĕt′ər-ə-spôr′əs,hĕt′ə-rŏs′pər-əs /

1. Producing two types of spores differing in size and sex, the male microspore and the female megaspore, which develop into separate male and female gametophytes. All seed-bearing plants, as well as some ferns and other seedless plants, are heterosporous.

2. Compare homosporous

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Other Word Forms

• heterospory noun

Etymology

Origin of heterosporous

First recorded in 1870–75; hetero- + -sporous

Example Sentences

Like all gymnosperms, pines are heterosporous and generate two different types of spores: male microspores and female megaspores.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

In contrast, heterosporous plants produce two morphologically different types of spores.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Gymnosperms are heterosporous seed plants that produce naked seeds.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Like all gymnosperms, pines are heterosporous and produce male microspores and female megaspores.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

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

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various