elater

[ el-uh-ter ]

noun

1. Botany. an elastic filament serving to disperse spores.
2. Zoology. elaterid.
3. Obsolete. elasticity.

elater

/ ˈɛlətə /

noun

1. an elaterid beetle
2. botany a spirally thickened filament, occurring in liverwort capsules and horsetails, thought to aid dispersal of spores

elater

/ ĕl′ə-tər /

1. A tiny elongated structure that helps disperse plant spores by coiling and uncoiling in response to changes in humidity. The elaters of horsetails are bands attached to the spore wall, while those of liverworts are sterile cells occurring among the spores.

Word History and Origins

Origin of elater¹

1645–55; < New Latin < Greek elatḗr driver, equivalent to ela- (stem of elaúnein to drive; elastic ) + -tēr noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of elater¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek: driver, from elaunein to beat, drive; compare elastic

Example Sentences

Kelsay Shaw said Possibility Place has “all the creepy-crawlies” such as eyed elater click beetles, over 100 species of caterpillars, as well as butterflies and moths.

From Seattle Times

Their motion is driven by four moisture-sensitive legs, or elaters, which curl when the moisture level changes.

From BBC

Their motion is driven by four moisture-sensitive legs, or elaters, which change shape when the moisture level changes - curling and uncurling to power the spores' insect-like walk or causing them to spring from the ground.

From BBC

Two elaters and some spores from the same, highly magnified.

From Project Gutenberg

Furthermore, the spirals may be smooth or spinulose the elater uniform throughout or enlarged betimes by nodes and swellings.

From Project Gutenberg