spermatium

[ spur-mey-shee-uhm ]

noun

, plural sper·ma·ti·a [spur-, mey, -shee-, uh].

1. Botany. the nonmotile male gamete of a red alga.
2. Mycology. a minute, colorless cell, of certain fungi and lichens, believed to be a male reproductive body, developed within spermogonia.

spermatium

/ spɜːˈmeɪtɪəm /

noun

1. a nonmotile male reproductive cell in red algae and some fungi

spermatium

/ spər-mā′shē-əm /

, Plural spermatia

1. A nonmotile cell in red algae and certain ascomycete fungi that functions as a male gamete.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spermatium¹

1855–60; < New Latin < Greek spermátion, equivalent to spermat- (stem of spérma ) sperm ¹ + -ion -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of spermatium¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek spermation a little seed; see sperm ¹

Example Sentences

If a spermatium lands on this filament, it will fertilize the structure, which will go on to produce a chamber packed with long, skinny two-celled spores.

From Scientific American