paraphysis

[ puh-raf-uh-sis ]
/ pəˈræf ə sɪs /

noun, plural pa·raph·y·ses [puh-raf-uh-seez] /pəˈræf əˌsiz/. Botany, Mycology.

one of the erect, sterile filaments often growing among the reproductive organs in many fungi, mosses, and ferns.

Origin of paraphysis

1855–60; < New Latin < Greek paráphysis literally, a growing beside, by-growth, equivalent to para- para-1 + phýsis growth, nature; see physic

OTHER WORDS FROM paraphysis

pa·raph·y·sate [puh-raf-uh-sit] /pəˈræf ə sɪt/, adjective

Words nearby paraphysis

paraphrase, paraphrasis, paraphrast, paraphrastic, paraphyletic, paraphysis, paraplanner, paraplegia, paraplegic, parapodium, parapraxia

Example sentences from the Web for paraphyses

British Dictionary definitions for paraphyses

paraphysis
/ (pəˈræfɪsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

any of numerous sterile cells occurring between the sex organs of mosses and algae and between the spore-producing bodies of basidiomycetous and ascomycetous fungi

Derived forms of paraphysis

paraphysate, adjective

Word Origin for paraphysis

C19: New Latin from Greek: subsidiary growth, from para- 1 + phusis growth

Scientific definitions for paraphyses

paraphysis
[ pə-răf′ĭ-sĭs ]

Plural paraphyses (pə-răf′ĭ-sēz′)

One of the erect sterile filaments often occurring among the reproductive organs of certain fungi, algae, and mosses.