SPOROPHORE Spo"ro*phore, n. Etym: [Spore + Gr. (Bot.) (a) A placenta. (b) That alternately produced form of certain cryptogamous plants, as ferns, mosses, and the like, which is nonsexual, but produces spores in countless numbers. In ferns it is the leafy plant, in mosses the capsule. Cf. Oöphore.
SPOROPHORIC
Spo`ro*phor"ic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the nature of a sporophore.
SPOROPHYTE
Spo"ro*phyte, n. [Spore + Gr. plant.] (Bot.)
Defn: In plants exhibiting alternation of generations, the generation which bears asexual spores; — opposed to gametophyte. It is not clearly differentiated in the life cycle of the lower plants. — Spo`ro*phyt"ic (#), a.
SPOROSAC Spo"ro*sac, n. Etym: [Spore + sac.] (Zoöl.) (a) A hydrozoan reproductive zooid or gonophore which does not become medusoid in form or structure. See Illust. under Athecata. (b) An early or simple larval stage of trematode worms and some other invertebrates, which is capable or reproducing other germs by asexual generation; a nurse; a redia.
SPOROZOA
Spo`ro*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. a spore + (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive division of parasitic Protozoa, which increase by sporulation. It includes the Gregarinida.
SPOROZOID
Spo`ro*zo"id, n. Etym: [Spore + Gr. .] (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Zoöspore.