Statospores

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A dormant, thick-walled reproductive cell produced by certain freshwater algae that survives harsh conditions before germinating again
2. A tough, resistant resting cell formed by some golden-brown algae, often with a silica case, that lies dormant through unfavorable periods
3. An enclosed, durable dormant cell made by particular aquatic algae to endure winter or drought and later grow into a new organism

Etymology: "Statospores" is the plural of "statospore," so it names the same thing in the plural. A statospore is a resting spore produced by certain freshwater organisms, most notably the colonial algae and related protists of the group known as chrysophytes and some diatoms, though the term is used in technical biology. Its ending, "-spore," comes from the Greek "spora," meaning "seed" or "sowing," and the word is formed from that element combined with a prefix that refers to the stationary, dormant state the spore enters.