sporophore

A spore-bearing structure, especially in fungi.

In botany: A placenta.

The branch or part of the thallus which bears spores or spore mothercells. The various forms are further distinguished as gonidiophore, sporangiophore, ascophore, etc.

In Archegoniateæ, a sporophyte. Also called encarpium.

A placenta.

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.

A spore-producing organ, especially a fungus hypha specialized to carry spores.

a spore-bearing branch or organ: the part of the thallus of a sporophyte that develops spores; in ferns and mosses and liverworts is practically equivalent to the sporophyte