sori

[sawr-ahy, sohr-ahy]

noun

plural of sorus.

sorus

[sawr-uh s, sohr-]

noun, plural so·ri

[sawr-ahy, sohr-ahy] /ˈsɔr aɪ, ˈsoʊr aɪ/.

Botany. one of the clusters of sporangia on the back of the fronds of ferns.
Mycology. a soruslike spore mass of certain fungi and lichens.

Origin of sorus

1825–35; < New Latin < Greek sōrós heap

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sori

Historical Examples of sori

The sori are borne in lines on either side of the mid-vein of the lobe.
How to Know the Ferns
S. Leonard Bastin
We shall find the sori on veins which run from the mid-vein of the pinnules.
How to Know the Ferns
S. Leonard Bastin
The sori are placed on veins which branch out from the mid-veins of the pinnules.
How to Know the Ferns
S. Leonard Bastin
The sori are very abundant, but as these are small they should be carefully examined.
How to Know the Ferns
S. Leonard Bastin
The sori have indusia, but this is hidden by the margin of the pinnules, which are recurved.
How to Know the Ferns
S. Leonard Bastin

British Dictionary definitions for sori

sori

noun

the plural of sorus

sorus

noun plural -ri (-raɪ)

a cluster of sporangia on the undersurface of certain fern leaves
any of various similar spore-producing structures in some lichens and fungi

Word Origin for sorus

C19: via New Latin from Greek sōros a heap

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sori in Science

sorus

[sôr′əs]

Plural sori (sôr′ī)

A cluster of sporangia borne on the underside of a fern frond. A sorus is sometimes covered by an indusium. Also called fruitdot
A reproductive structure consisting of masses of spores, characteristic of certain fungi such as rusts and smuts.