Thallus
Thallus
Thallus (pronunciation: /ˈθæləs/) is a term used in botany and mycology to describe the vegetative body of algae, fungi, and some other non-plant organisms. The term is derived from the Greek word "thallos", which means "young shoot" or "twig".
Definition
A thallus usually refers to a structure that is not differentiated into roots, stems, and leaves and lacks an organized vascular system. It can be unicellular or multicellular. In algae, the thallus may be a simple, undifferentiated cell, a colony, or a filament. In fungi, the thallus is often a complex, multicellular structure.
Types of Thallus
There are several types of thallus, including:
- Foliose - These thalli resemble leaves and are attached to the substrate at various points by structures called rhizines.
- Fruticose - These thalli are shrubby or bushy, and are attached to the substrate at a single point.
- Crustose - These thalli are crust-like and are tightly attached to the substrate over their entire lower surface.
- Squamulose - These thalli are composed of small, scale-like lobes and are loosely attached to the substrate.
Related Terms
- Algae - A large group of photosynthetic organisms that includes seaweeds and many single-celled forms.
- Fungi - A kingdom of spore-producing organisms that includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds.
- Rhizines - Root-like structures in lichens that attach the thallus to the substrate.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thallus
- Wikipedia's article - Thallus
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski