heterosporous

[ het-uh-ros-puh-ruh s, het-er-uh-spawr-uh s, -spohr- ]
/ ˌhɛt əˈrɒs pə rəs, ˌhɛt ər əˈspɔr əs, -ˈspoʊr- /

adjective Botany.

having more than one kind of spore.

Origin of heterosporous

First recorded in 1870–75; hetero- + -sporous

Example sentences from the Web for heterosporous

British Dictionary definitions for heterosporous

heterosporous
/ (ˌhɛtəˈrɒspərəs) /

adjective

(of seed plants and some ferns and club mosses) producing megaspores and microspores Compare homosporous

Derived forms of heterosporous

heterospory, noun

Scientific definitions for heterosporous

heterosporous
[ hĕt′ər-ə-spôrəs, hĕt′ə-rŏspər-əs ]

Producing two types of spores differing in size and sex, the male microspore and the female megaspore, which develop into separate male and female gametophytes. All seed-bearing plants, as well as some ferns and other seedless plants, are heterosporous. Compare homosporous.