archegonium

[ ahr-ki-goh-nee-uhm ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural ar·che·go·ni·a [ahr-ki-, goh, -nee-, uh].

1. the female reproductive organ in ferns, mosses, etc.

archegonium

/ ˌɑːkɪˈɡəʊnɪəm /

noun

1. a female sex organ, occurring in mosses, spore-bearing vascular plants, and gymnosperms, that produces a single egg cell in its swollen base

archegonium

/ är′kĭ-gō′nē-əm /

, Plural archegonia

1. The egg-producing organ occurring in bryophytes (such as mosses and liverworts), ferns, and most gymnosperms. The archegonium is a multicellular, often flask-shaped structure that contains a single egg.
2. Compare antheridium

Derived Forms

• ˌarcheˈgoniate, adjective

Other Words From

• arche·goni·al ar·che·go·ni·ate [ahr-ki-, goh, -nee-it, -eyt], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of archegonium¹

1850–55; < New Latin, equivalent to archegon- (< Greek archégonos first of a race; arche-, gono- ) + -ium < Greek -ion diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of archegonium¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek arkhegonos original parent, from arkhe- chief, first + gonos seed, race

Example Sentences

A single archegonium—later capsule—is found in each of the half-dozen involucres.

From Project Gutenberg

Throughout he compares the structure with the pistillum (archegonium) of Bryophyta.

From Project Gutenberg

The fertilized nucleus or germ-cell of the archegonium in Cryptogams, from which the new plant is directly developed.

From Project Gutenberg

The female organ (archegonium) and the cell which it produces are practically identical in both cases.

From Project Gutenberg

Spermatozoids are formed in the antheridium, and these enter the archegonium and fertilize the germ cell.

From Project Gutenberg