sporangium

[spuh-ran-jee-uhm]

noun

Botany, Mycology.

plural

sporangia 

1. the case or sac in which spores are produced.

sporangium

/ spəˈrændʒɪəm /

noun

1. any organ, esp in fungi, in which asexual spores are produced

sporangium

plural

sporangia 

1. A cell or structure in which spores are produced. Ferns, fungi, mosses, and algae release spores from sporangia.

2. Also called spore case

Other Word Forms

• sporangial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporangium¹

1815–25; < New Latin, equivalent to spor- spor- + Greek angeîon vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporangium¹

C19: from New Latin, from _sporo- + Greek angeion receptacle

Example Sentences

These pollen gene controllers are active in maidenhair’s sporangia, the tissue where spores develop.

From Science Magazine

Then something magical happens: The fungus stops eating and rearranges itself into a giant stalk with a ball of cells — a sporangium — on top.

From New York Times

The gold was gone; now bunches of grapelike sporangia glittered.

From New York Times

"It's rare to get this many sporangia with well-preserved spores that you can measure," Leslie added.

From Fox News

The blackberry-like clusters set in the reproductive tiara are sporangia containing many spores, each with a ridged annulus like the bristles on a Roman helmet.

From Scientific American