A thick-walled spore produced by certain fungi and bacteria that allows them to survive harsh conditions like extreme cold or drying.
From Greek chlamys (cloak) + spore (seed), literally 'cloaked spore.' The term was coined in the 19th century to describe how these spores are enclosed in protective walls, as if wearing a protective garment.
Chlamydospores are nature's survival capsules—some can remain dormant for years and then spring to life when conditions improve, which is why certain fungal infections are so hard to eliminate from the environment.
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