apothecia

Variant of apothecium

apothecium definition

apo·theci·um (ap′ō t̸hē′s̸hē əm, -sē əm; ap′ə-)

noun pl. apothecia -·cia (-ə)

Bot. an open cuplike structure containing sacs in which sexual spores are developed, as in lichens and certain fungi

Etymology: ModL < L apotheca (see apothecary) + -ium

Related Forms:

  • apothecial ap′o·the′ci·al (-s̸həl, -s̸hē əl) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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