Zool. a bud, enclosed in a hard covering, produced by most freshwater bryozoans, able to survive freezing, drying, etc. to germinate and form a new colony
Origin:
< Gr statos, standing (see statocyst) + -blast
See statoblast in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
An asexually produced encapsulated bud of a freshwater bryozoan that is released upon disintegration of the parent colony in autumn, remains inactive through winter, and develops into a new organism in spring.