protonema

protonema Definition

proto·nema (prōt′ə nē′mə)

noun pl. -·mata-mə tə

Bot. a threadlike growth in mosses, arising from a spore and developing small buds that grow into leafy moss plants

Etymology: ModL < Gr prōto-, proto- + nēma (gen. nēmatos), thread

protonema Related Forms

pro′to·ne′mal adjective

Browse dictionary entries near protonema