A spore or reproductive cell enclosed within a protective cyst or sac-like structure.
From Greek 'kystis' (cyst) + 'spora' (seed/spore). A term from plant and fungal biology combining protection with reproduction, used since the 1800s.
Fungi and some plants package their reproductive cells inside protective cysts like seeds in seed pods—these are cystospores, and they're basically biological time capsules designed to survive harsh conditions until conditions are right for growth!
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