ˈspōrəˌfō(ə)r, -pȯr-, -fȯ(ə)r, -fōə, -fȯ(ə) noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary spor- + -phore
: a spore-bearing branch or organ : the part of the thallus of a sporophyte that develops spores, in fungi is often a conspicuous spore fruit (as in the mushrooms and other basidiomycetes) though sometimes a simple hyphal filament or a mass of hyphae, in ferns, mosses, and liverworts is practically equivalent to the sporophyte, and in seed plants constitutes the placenta — compare gametophore
• spo·ro·phor·ic | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|fȯrik adjective