noun
- plural of prothallus; the small, flat, heart-shaped structures that represent the gametophyte generation in ferns and other seedless plants
Usage: botanical
Examples
- The prothalli develop from spores and produce both male and female reproductive organs.
- Students examined the tiny prothalli under microscopes in botany class.
- Prothalli are typically only a few millimeters wide and grow close to the ground.
- The fertilization process occurs on the underside of the prothalli.
- Moisture is essential for the survival and reproduction of prothalli.
- Each spore can potentially develop into one of many prothalli.