protonema

noun pro·to·ne·ma \ˌprō-tə-ˈnē-mə\

plural pro·to·ne·ma·ta\-ˈnē-mə-tə, -ˈne-\

Definition of PROTONEMA

: the primary usually filamentous thalloid stage of the gametophyte in mosses and in some liverworts comparable to the prothallus in ferns

— pro·to·ne·mal \-ˈnē-məl\ adjective

— pro·to·ne·ma·tal \-ˈnē-mə-t^əl, -ˈne-\ adjective

New Latin protonemat-, protonema, from prot- + Greek nēma thread — more at nemat-

First Known Use: 1857

Next Word in the Dictionary: ProtonemertiniPrevious Word in the Dictionary: protonateAll Words Near: protonema

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