microsporophyll
- noun
- /ˌmaɪkrəˈspɔrəˌfɪl/
- Specialized
:
microsporófilo
- Each microsporophyll typically supports two microsporangia in a male pine cone.
Examples
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The pollen cones of conifers contain many microsporophylls arranged in spirals.
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In cycads, the microsporophylls are packed densely around the axis of the cone.
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The microsporophyll is crucial for the reproduction of certain plants.
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In ferns, the microsporophyll produces microspores that develop into gametophytes.
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Each microsporophyll supports two microsporangia in a male pine cone, facilitating pollen production.
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In cycads, the densely packed microsporophylls surround the axis of the cone, playing a key role in reproduction.
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The pollen cones of conifers are composed of many microsporophylls arranged in spirals, essential for producing microspores.
Synonyms
A leaf-like part that holds spore-producing structures on ferns, mosses, and some seed plants
A part of a plant or fungus that makes tiny spores that grow into new living things
How Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
microsporophyll = sporophyll (semi-transparent) = micro + spor + phyll
The formation is regular in botanical terminology, but the specialized meaning is not obvious to general learners.
Etymology
Microsporophyll breaks into micro- 'small', sporo- 'spore' meaning a tiny reproductive part, and -phyll 'leaf', as in chlorophyll. So a microsporophyll is a 'small spore leaf', which explains why it is a leaf that bears microspores.