paraphysis

American  

[puh-raf-uh-sis] / pəˈræf ə sɪs /

noun

Botany, Mycology.

plural

paraphyses

1. one of the erect, sterile filaments often growing among the reproductive organs in many fungi, mosses, and ferns.

---

paraphysis British  

/ pəˈræfɪsɪs /

noun

1. any of numerous sterile cells occurring between the sex organs of mosses and algae and between the spore-producing bodies of basidiomycetous and ascomycetous fungi

---

paraphysis Scientific  

/ pə-răf′ĭ-sĭs /

plural

paraphyses

1. One of the erect sterile filaments often occurring among the reproductive organs of certain fungi, algae, and mosses.

---

Other Word Forms

• paraphysate adjective

Etymology

Origin of paraphysis

1855–60; < New Latin < Greek paráphysis literally, a growing beside, by-growth, equivalent to para- para- ¹ + phýsis growth, nature; physic

Example Sentences

In some species, however, the paraphyses are rare, and the mucilaginous substance is entirely wanting.

From Project Gutenberg

In some cases, it is not difficult to detect paraphyses, but in others they would seem to be entirely absent.

From Project Gutenberg

These asci are crowded together side by side, and with them are slender empty asci called paraphyses.

From Project Gutenberg

The spore-bearing cells are basidia; the others are called paraphyses.

From Project Gutenberg

F, spore sacs and paraphyses of Usnea, × 300.

From Project Gutenberg