prothallus

[ proh-thal-uhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Botany.

, plural pro·thal·li [proh-, thal, -ahy].

prothallus

/ prəʊˈθælɪəm; prəʊˈθæləs /

botany the small flat free-living gametophyte that bears the reproductive organs of ferns, horsetails, and club mosses. It is either a green disc on the soil surface or it is colourless and subterranean

prothallus

/ prō-thăl′əs /

, Plural prothalli prō-thăl′ī

The gametophyte of homosporous ferns and some other plants. Prothalli have chlorophyll for photosynthesis, but they are not differentiated into roots, stems, or leaves. They are usually small, flat, and delicate. Prothalli develop from germinated spores, and they bear both archegonia for producing eggs and antheridia for producing sperm.
See more at alternation of generations

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From New Latin, dating back to 1850–55; pro- ², thallus

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C19: from New Latin, from pro- before + Greek thallus a young shoot

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With L. inundatum, however, the prothallus is green and leaf-like.

It is obviously important that the male and the female prothallus should be together.

Malic acid has, however, been discovered to be present in the prothallus as a whole.

Prothallus, the leaf-shaped green organism that grows from the spore of a fern and produces sexual organs, 49.

Prothallus green, formed upon the ground, often variously lobed, usually dicious.

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