noun
- The plural of heterospory; the condition in certain plants (ferns and seed plants) of producing two different types of spores: microspores and megaspores.
Usage: botanical term; technical
Examples
- Heterospories in ferns represent an evolutionary step toward seed plant reproduction.
- The development of heterospories allowed plants to produce both male and female gametophytes.
- Botanists study heterospories to understand the transition from spore-bearing to seed-bearing plants.
- Heterospories is a key characteristic distinguishing certain pteridophytes from their homosporous relatives.