sterigma

[ stuh-rig-muh ]

noun

, Mycology.

, plural ste·rig·ma·ta [st, uh, -, rig, -m, uh, -t, uh].

1. a small stalk that bears a sporangium, a conidium, or especially a basidiospore.

sterigma

/ stəˈrɪɡmə /

noun

1. biology a minute stalk bearing a spore or chain of spores in certain fungi

Other Words From

• ster·ig·mat·ic [ster-ig-, mat, -ik, steer-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterigma¹

1865–70; < New Latin < Greek stḗrigma a support, equivalent to stērig-, base of stērízein to support + -ma noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of sterigma¹

C19: New Latin from Greek stērigma support, from stērizein to sustain

Example Sentences

The size varies, but a typical spore is about 10 microns, or 1/2,500th of an inch, in width, and it is attached at the end of a stalk called a sterigma.

From New York Times

“There’s a point at the top of the sterigma, and it has one of the most poetic names in biology,” Dr. Pringle said.

From New York Times

D, Passage of a nucleus through the sterigma into the basidiospore.

From Project Gutenberg

The young basidium contains two nuclei, which later fuse; the fusion-nucleus then undergoes two successive divisions, involving a reduction of chromosomes, and each of the four resultant nuclei passes through a sterigma into a basidiospore.

From Project Gutenberg

Every sterigma at first produces at its point a little round protuberance, which, with a strong narrow basis, rests upon the sterigma.

From Project Gutenberg