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prothallia

 - 2 dictionary results

pro⋅thal⋅li⋅um

  [proh-thal-ee-uhm]
Use prothallia in a Sentence
–noun, plural -thal⋅li⋅a  [-thal-ee-uh] .
1. Botany. the gametophyte of ferns and related plants.
2. the analogous rudimentary gametophyte of seed-bearing plants.
Origin:
1855–60; < NL < Gk pro- pro- 2 + thallíon, dim. of thallós young shoot; see -ium

Related forms:
pro⋅thal⋅li⋅al, pro⋅thal⋅lic, pro⋅thal⋅line  [proh-thal-een, -ahyn] , adjective
pro⋅thal⋅loid, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pro·thal·lus   (prō-thāl'əs)   
n.   pl. pro·thal·li (-thāl'ī) or pro·thal·li·a (-thāl'ē-ə)
A small, flat, delicate structure produced by a germinating spore and bearing sex organs. It is the gametophyte of ferns and some other plants.

[New Latin : pro-2 + Greek thallos, shoot (from thallein, to sprout).]
pro·thal'li·al (-lē-əl) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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