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indusium Definition

in·du·sium (in do̵̅o̅′zē əm, -dyo̵̅o̅′-; -z̸hē--)

noun pl. -·sia----ə

  1. Anat., Zool.
    1. any covering membrane, as the amnion
    2. a case enclosing an insect larva or pupa
  2. Bot.
    1. a membranous outgrowth of the leaf epidermis in certain ferns, covering the sporangia
    2. the annulus of certain fungi

Etymology: ModL < L, undergarment, tunic; assoc. with induere, to put on (see indue), but prob. < Gr endysis, dress, clothing < endyein, to go into, put on

indusium Related Forms
in·du′·sial (----əl) adjective