protonema

American  

[proh-tuh-nee-muh] / ˌproʊ təˈni mə /

noun

Botany.

plural

protonemata

1. a primary, usually filamentous structure produced by the germination of the spore in mosses and certain related plants, and from which the leafy plant which bears the sexual organs arises as a lateral or terminal shoot.

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protonema British  

/ ˌprəʊtəˈniːmətəl, -ˈnɛmətəl, ˌprəʊtəˈniːmə /

noun

1. a branched threadlike structure that grows from a moss spore and eventually develops into the moss plant

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protonema Scientific  

/ prō′tə-nē′mə /

plural

protonemata

1. The green filamentous or flat, thallus-like structure that grows from the germinated spores of liverworts and mosses and eventually gives rise to a mature gametophyte.

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Other Word Forms

• protonemal adjective

Etymology

Origin of protonema

1855–60; < New Latin < Greek prōto- proto- + nêma thread

Example Sentences

When it lands, the spore sprouts a collection of alga-like filaments called a protonema.

From Scientific American

After a few weeks, leaflets begin to sprout from the protonema and grow into the moss plant we know and love.

From Scientific American

When the scientists cultured these stunted but sprouty sporophytes to see what would happen, the filaments grew into a mass resembling a protonema after a week.

From Scientific American

A week after that, the protonema produced a leafy bud resembling that made by normal moss gametophytes.

From Scientific American

C, a normal "wild type" haploid moss gametophyte sprouting from its filamentous protonema.

From Scientific American