indusium
9.9
A thin covering that protects young spores under a fern leaf
- noun
- /ɪnˈduːziəm/
- Specialized
:
indusio
- The thin membrane known as the indusium covers the sori of ferns to safeguard their spores.
Examples
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Also, a layer to protect the sorus, e.g., "In fungi and lichens, the sorus is surrounded by an external layer" (indusium gresium).
Blog text (19) -
There can also be a false indusium.
Blog text (19) -
- I know it's an Alsophila but it seems to have some kind of vestigial indusium.
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Indusium and gresium both have references to botany and biology.
Blog text (19) -
The indusium protects the developing spores on the fern's sori as they grow.
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In botanical studies, the indusium is crucial for understanding spore development in ferns.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Indusium comes from the Latin word indusium, which meant a 'covering', and from the verb induō meaning 'to put on' or 'dress'. So an indusium is like a tiny 'coat' that covers and protects the developing spores on a fern.
