indusium

in·du·si·um  (n-dz-m, -zh-, -dy-)

n. pl. in·du·si·a (-z-, -zh-)

An enclosing membrane, as that covering the sorus of a fern.

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[Latin, tunic, perhaps alteration of Greek endusis, dress, from enduein, to sink into, put on : en-, in; see en-² + duein, to sink.]

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indusium  (n-dz-m, -zh-)

Plural indusia

1. A thin membrane covering the sorus of a fern. The indusium often shrivels away when spores are ready to be dispersed. Also called fruitcover.

2. A cuplike structure fringed with hairs and located at the top of the style in flowers of the family Goodeniaceae (which includes the garden flowers lobelia and scaevola). Pollen is deposited into the indusium by the anthers of the same flower and, as the style grows, carried up for dispersal by pollinating insects.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

indusium - a membrane enclosing and protecting the developing spores especially that covering the sori of a fern covering, natural covering, cover - a natural object that covers or envelops; "under a covering of dust"; "the fox was flushed from its cover" sorus - cluster of sporangia usually on underside of a fern frond