archegonium
/ˌɑːkɪˈɡəʊnɪəm
/noun (plural archegonia /ˌɑːkɪˈɡəʊnɪə/) Botany
The female sex organ in mosses, liverworts, ferns, and most conifers.Antheridia formed on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the wing, while archegonia formed on the ventral surface of the anterior cushion....
- Dispersed by wind, these small spores germinate into small, freeliving, disc-shaped gametophytes that produce either archegonia - organs in which egg cells are formed - or sperm-producing antheridia.
- Notwithstanding their general similarity, the archegonia of mosses differ externally from antheridia in having a longer neck and longer stalk.
Origin
Mid 19th century: modern Latin, from Greek arkhegonos, from arkhe- 'chief' + gonos 'race'.