protonema

pro·to·ne·ma  (prt-nm)

n. pl. pro·to·ne·ma·ta (-nm-t, -nm-)

The green filamentous growth that arises from spore germination in liverworts and mosses and eventually gives rise to a mature gametophyte.

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[proto- + Greek nma, thread; see (s)n- in Indo-European roots.]

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proto·nemal (-nml), proto·nema·tal (-nm-tl, -nm-) adj.

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protonema [ˌprəʊtəˈniːmə]

n pl -nemata [-ˈniːmətə]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) a branched threadlike structure that grows from a moss spore and eventually develops into the moss plant

[from New Latin, from proto- + Greek nema thread]

protonemal , protonematal [ˌprəʊtəˈniːmət^əl -ˈnɛmət^əl] adj

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protonema  (prt-nm)

Plural protonemata (prt-nm-t, -nm-)

The green filamentous or flat, thallus-like structure that grows from the germinated spores of liverworts and mosses and eventually gives rise to a mature gametophyte.