indusium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a membrane enclosing and protecting the developing spores especially that covering the sori of a fern

WordNet

In*du"si*um noun
Etymology
L., an under garment, fr. induere to put on: cf. F. indusie the covering of the seed spots of ferns.
Wordforms
plural Indu
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) (a) A collection of hairs united so as to form a sort of cup, and inclosing the stigma of a flower. (b) The immediate covering of the fruit dots or sori in many ferns, usually a very thin scale attached by the middle or side to a veinlet. (c) A peculiar covering found in certain fungi.

Webster 1913