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Glite Dictionary
sporophyll

sporophyll

9.9
A leaf-like part that holds spore-producing structures on ferns, mosses, and some seed plants
  • noun
  • /ˈspɔrəˌfɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esporófilo
  • Some club mosses produce cones composed of closely packed sporophylls.

Examples

  • The arrangement of sporophylls can help botanists identify different plant species.

  • In ferns, the sporophyll is often distinct from the sterile leaves.

  • A sporophyll is essential for the reproduction of ferns.

  • The sporophylls of the plant are often green and leaf-like.

  • In ferns, the sporophyll is the part of the plant where reproductive spores are produced.

  • The sporophyll can often be distinguished by its unique arrangement of sporangia on the leaf surface.

  • Studying the sporophyll helps scientists understand how different plants reproduce through spores.

Synonyms

sporophore
vssporophyll
  • Specialized
9.9

A part of a plant or fungus that makes tiny spores that grow into new living things

is leaflike in form rather than a branchlike organ

How Specialized

microsporangium
  • Specialized
9.9
microsporophyll
  • Specialized
9.9
sporophyll
  • Specialized
9.9
leaf
178 1.0

Surface Forms

sporophyll singular
sporophylls plural

Morphology

sporophyll = phyll (semi-transparent) = sporo + phyll

For learners who know the scientific combining forms, 'sporo-' plus 'phyll' suggests a spore-bearing leaf, but the term is specialized and not built from everyday standalone words.

Etymology

Sporophyll combines spore ('spore') and phyll ('leaf'), so it literally means a 'leaf that carries spores'. That's why a sporophyll is a leaf or leaf-like part of a plant that bears the spore-making parts.