protocorm

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noun

A tuberous mass of cells that is the embryonic form of orchids and club mosses

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Meanings

nounprotocorm (plural protocorms)

plural protocorms

  1. biologyA tuberous mass of cells that is the embryonic form of orchids and club mosses
    1 more example

    Orchids rely on fungi to reproduce. Their tiny seeds don't have any on-board nutrients (like beans and apples) and will not germinate until they are infected by a symbiotic fungus which supplies them with food. Known as a protocorm, this tiny orchid-fungus ball grows, turns green and eventually starts to photosynthesise.

    2014 April 5, “Quite interesting: A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week; QI orchids you not”, in The Daily Telegraph (Weekend), page W22

Origin

From proto- + corm.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

protocorm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protocorm

MLA

“protocorm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protocorm. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “protocorm,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protocorm.

Source: protocorm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.