Definition

A stage in the life cycle of certain plants and algae that produces gametes, which are the reproductive cells.

Example

The oophyte is crucial for the reproduction of mosses and ferns.

Conversation

I was reading about plants and came across the term oophyte yesterday.

Oh really? What does that mean?

It refers to the gametophyte stage in the plant life cycle.

That sounds interesting! I love learning about different plant stages.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oophyte is formed from "oo-" (from Greek "oion", meaning egg) and "phyte" (from Greek "phyton", meaning plant). The word refers to a plant that develops from an egg or spore, particularly in the context of certain algae and fungi.

Memory Tip

Think of 'oo-' meaning 'egg' and 'phyte' meaning 'plant' — this helps you remember that an oophyte is a plant that comes from an egg.

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