protonema

American  

[proh-tuh-nee-muh] / ˌproʊ təˈni mə /

noun

Botany.

• protonemata
  plural

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  

/ 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 /

• protonemata
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• protonemal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• protonemata
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of protonema

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

protonema

The moss-plants arise from single projecting cells, and numerous plants may spring from the protonema developed from a single spore.

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

In Ephemerum also we may probably regard the relation of the small plants to the protonema as a primitive one.

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

Usually the protonema is filamentous and ceases to be evident after the plants have developed.

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

This tangled mass of green threads, called the protonema, is the first growth, from which the moss stems spring.

From Through Magic Glasses and Other Lectures A Sequel to The Fairyland of Science by Arabella B. Buckley

The protonema is not persistent, and the plants are well developed, resembling those of Pleuridium.

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

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