archicarp

noun

1. The female reproductive structure of an ascomycete.

   “The archicarp is bounded at the top by the trichogyne and at the base by a foot cell.”

   “In Chaetomium spirale the cells of the mycelium contain each a single nucleus, the archicarp arises as a coiled branch and divides into four or more uninucleate cells.”

   “The other branch (antheridium) grows up in close contact with the archicarp, and like it is shut off by a partition from its filament.”