an organ of vegetative reproduction in lichens consisting of a cluster of algal cells enclosed in fungal hyphae: dispersed by wind, insects, or other means
Word origin
C19: New Latin, from Greek sōros a heap
soredium in American English
(səˈridiəm)
nounWord forms: plural-dia (-diə)
(in a lichen)
a group of algal cells surrounded by hyphal tissue, occurring on the surface of the thallus and functioning in vegetative reproduction
Also called: brood bud, hologonidium
Derived forms
sorediate (səˈridiɪt, -ˌeit)
adjective
Word origin
[1820–30; ‹ NL, dim. of Gk sōrós a heap]This word is first recorded in the period 1820–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: analogue, insider, morphology, myth, takeoff