sporophore

[ spawr-uh-fawr, spohr-uh-fohr ]

noun

, Mycology.

1. a fungus hypha specialized to bear spores.

sporophore

/ ˈspɔːrəʊˌfɔː; ˈspɒ- /

noun

1. an organ in fungi that produces or carries spores, esp the massive spore-bearing body of mushrooms, etc

Other Words From

• spo·ro·phor·ic [spawr-, uh, -, fawr, -ik, -, for, -, spohr-], spo·roph·o·rous [sp, uh, -, rof, -er-, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporophore¹

First recorded in 1840–50; sporo- + -phore

Example Sentences

The term “receptacle” sometimes applied to these spore-bearing hyphae is better replaced by sporophore.

From Project Gutenberg

Stump of Norway Spruce, with a sporophore of polyporus annosus several years old; the inner portions of the stump wholly decayed.

From Project Gutenberg

Corda states that, although only one spore is produced at a time on each sporophore, when this falls away others are produced in succession for a limited period.

From Project Gutenberg

The sporophore is obsolete when the spore-bearing hyphae are not sharply distinct from the mycelium, simple when the constituent hyphae are isolated, and compound when the latter are conjoined.

From Project Gutenberg

Since in such cases the sporophore bears sexual cells, they may be conveniently termed gametophores.

From Project Gutenberg