spore
Biology term for a reproductive cell capable of developing into a new organism without fusion with another cell, as in fungi, ferns, and bacteria.
シダ植物は胞子で増える。
Ferns reproduce by spores.
This mushroom produces spores when autumn comes.
The mushroom spores were carried away by the wind.
成熟した胞子嚢は胞子を放出する。
The mature sporangium releases its spores.
Moss reproduces by spores.
The spore germinated on the damp soil.
花粉 is pollen, the male gametophyte carried by seed plants for fertilization, whereas 胞子 is a self-sufficient reproductive spore that doesn't require fusion with another cell.
grain; bead; drop · counter for small round objects
macrospore; megaspore
microspore
sporophyte
sporangium
fertile frond; sporophyll
From 胞 (cell, sac) + 子 (small thing, child). The kanji compound directly reflects the biological concept of a small reproductive cell.