heterosporous

[ het-uh-ros-puh-ruhs, het-er-uh-spawr-uhs, -spohr- ]

adjective

, Botany.

1. having more than one kind of spore.

heterosporous

/ ˌhɛtəˈrɒspərəs /

adjective

1. (of seed plants and some ferns and club mosses) producing megaspores and microspores Compare homosporous

heterosporous

/ hĕt′ər-ə-spôr′əs,hĕt′ə-rŏs′pər-əs /

1. Producing two types of spores differing in size and sex, the male microspore and the female megaspore, which develop into separate male and female gametophytes. All seed-bearing plants, as well as some ferns and other seedless plants, are heterosporous.
2. Compare homosporous

Derived Forms

• ˌheterˈospory, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterosporous¹

First recorded in 1870–75; hetero- + -sporous

Example Sentences

"Usually when we see heterosporous plants appear in the fossil record, they just sort of pop into existence," said the study's senior author, Andrew Leslie, in a statement.

From Fox News

Selaginella, sē-laj-i-nel′a, n. a genus of heterosporous cryptogams, allied to club-moss.

From Project Gutenberg