sorus

[ sawr-uhs, sohr- ]

noun

, plural so·ri [sawr, -ahy, sohr, -ahy].

1. Botany. one of the clusters of sporangia on the back of the fronds of ferns.
2. Mycology. a soruslike spore mass of certain fungi and lichens.

sorus

/ ˈsɔːrəs /

noun

1. a cluster of sporangia on the undersurface of certain fern leaves
2. any of various similar spore-producing structures in some lichens and fungi

sorus

/ sôr′əs /

, Plural sori sôr′ī

1. A cluster of sporangia borne on the underside of a fern frond. A sorus is sometimes covered by an indusium.
2. Also called fruitdot
3. A reproductive structure consisting of masses of spores, characteristic of certain fungi such as rusts and smuts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sorus¹

1825–35; < New Latin < Greek sōrós heap

Word History and Origins

Origin of sorus¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek sōros a heap

Example Sentences

This 10×-magnified ultraviolet image of a fern sorus — the structure that produces and contains the plant’s spores — won Rogelio Moreno Gill second place in the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.

From Nature

Sori linear, confluent in pairs, each pair appearing like a single sorus with a double indusium opening down the middle.

From Project Gutenberg

Indusium convex, fixed by a broad base partly under the sorus, commonly reflexed as the sporangia ripen.

From Project Gutenberg

Sori round, borne on the veins; indusium fixed under the sorus, divided into segments or into slender filaments.

From Project Gutenberg

Synangium, si-nan′ji-um, n. an arterial trunk: the boat-shaped sorus of certain ferns.

From Project Gutenberg