haustorium

[ haw-stawr-ee-uhm, -stohr- ]

noun

, plural haus·to·ri·a [haw-, stawr, -ee-, uh, -, stohr, -].

1. a projection from the hypha of a fungus into the organic matter from which it absorbs nutrients.
2. the penetrating feeding organ of certain parasites.

haustorium

/ hɔːˈstɔːrɪəm /

noun

1. the organ of a parasitic plant that penetrates the host tissues and absorbs food and water from them

haustorium

/ hô-stôr′ē-əm /

, Plural haustoria

1. A specialized absorbing structure of a parasitic fungus or plant, such as the rootlike outgrowth of the dodder, that obtains food from a host plant. In parasitic fungi, haustoria are specialized hyphae that penetrate the cells of other organisms and absorb nutrients directly from them.

Derived Forms

• hausˈtorial, adjective

Other Words From

• haus·tori·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of haustorium¹

1870–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin haus- (variant stem of haurīre to draw, scoop up) + -tōrium -tory ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of haustorium¹

C19: from New Latin, from Late Latin haustor a water-drawer; see haustellum

Example Sentences

The peg is then followed by a haustorium, the root that plugs into the arboreal host to draw off nutrients and water.

From Scientific American