sorus

American  

[sawr-uhs, sohr-] / ˈsɔr əs, ˈsoʊr- /

noun

plural

sori

1. Botany. one of the clusters of sporangia on the back of the fronds of ferns.

2. Mycology. a soruslike spore mass of certain fungi and lichens.

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sorus British  

/ ˈsɔːrəs /

noun

1. a cluster of sporangia on the undersurface of certain fern leaves

2. any of various similar spore-producing structures in some lichens and fungi

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sorus Scientific  

/ sôr′əs /

plural

sori

1. A cluster of sporangia borne on the underside of a fern frond. A sorus is sometimes covered by an indusium.

2. Also called fruitdot

3. A reproductive structure consisting of masses of spores, characteristic of certain fungi such as rusts and smuts.

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Etymology

Origin of sorus

1825–35; < New Latin < Greek sōrós heap

Example Sentences

But Brock also thought she saw something else in the sorus.

From Slate • Jan. 19, 2011

Sori round, borne on the veins; indusium fixed under the sorus, divided into segments or into slender filaments.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa

Indusium convex, fixed by a broad base partly under the sorus, commonly reflexed as the sporangia ripen.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa

Indusium hood-shaped, fixed centrally behind the sorus and arching over it, soon withering, often illusive.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry

Indusium minute, concealed beneath the sorus, divided into a few beaded hairs.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry