archegonium

noun

ar·​che·​go·​ni·​um ˌär-ki-ˈgō-nē-əm 

plural archegonia ˌär-ki-ˈgō-nē-ə 

: the flask-shaped female sex organ of bryophytes, lower vascular plants (such as ferns), and some gymnosperms

archegonial

ˌär-ki-ˈgō-nē-əl 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek archegonos originator, from archein to begin + gonos procreation; akin to Greek gignesthai to be born — more at arch-, kin

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above