amphithecium

[ am-fuh-thee-shee-uhm ]

noun

, plural am·phi·the·ci·a [am-f, uh, -, thee, -shee-, uh].

1. Botany. the layer or one of the layers of cells in the capsule of a moss surrounding the spores.
2. Mycology. (in certain lichens) a layer of cells that surrounds the fungal apothecium.

amphithecium

/ ˌæmfɪˈθiːsɪəm /

noun

1. the outer layer of cells of the sporophyte of mosses and liverworts that develops into the outer parts of the spore-bearing capsule

Other Words From

• am·phi·the·cial [am-f, uh, -, thee, -sh, uh, l, -shee-, uh, l, -see-, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphithecium¹

< New Latin < Greek amphi- amphi- + thēkíon ( thḗk ( ē ) case, cover + -ion diminutive suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphithecium¹

C19: from New Latin, from amphi- + Greek thēkion a little case, from thēkē case

Example Sentences

In Sphagnum, as in Anthoceros, the archesporium is derived from the amphithecium; in all other mosses it is the outermost layer of the endothecium.

From Project Gutenberg