antheridium

American  

[an-thuh-rid-ee-uhm] / ˌæn θəˈrɪd i əm /

noun

Botany, Mycology.

plural

antheridia

1. a male reproductive structure producing gametes, occurring in ferns, mosses, fungi, and algae.

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antheridium British  

/ ˌænθəˈrɪdɪəm /

noun

1. the male sex organ of algae, fungi, bryophytes, and spore-bearing vascular plants, such as ferns, which produces antherozoids

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antheridium Scientific  

/ ăn′thə-rĭd′ē-əm /

plural

antheridia

1. An organ in certain organisms that produces male gametes. Antheridia are found in many groups of organisms, including the bryophytes, ferns, ascomycete fungi, and some algae. Most gymnosperms and all angiosperms, however, have lost the antheridium, and its role is filled by the pollen grain.

2. Compare archegonium

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Other Word Forms

• antheridial adjective

Etymology

Origin of antheridium

From New Latin, dating back to 1850–55; see origin at anther, -idium

Example Sentences

In a process called plasmogamy, the ascogonium and antheridium fuse to form a cell with multiple haploid nuclei.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The “male” strain produces an antheridium and the “female” strain develops an ascogonium.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Flagellated sperm released from the antheridium swim on a wet surface to the archegonium, where the egg is fertilized.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Once released from the antheridium, the clock begins to count down their survival probability.

From Scientific American • Jul. 28, 2012

If a ripe antheridium is crushed in a drop of water, after lying a few minutes the spermatozoids will escape through small openings in the side of the cells.

From Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany For High Schools and Elementary College Courses by Campbell, Douglas Houghton