Oophyte

Oophyte O"["o]*phyte, n. [Gr. w,'o`n an egg + fyto`n a plant.] (Bot.) Any plant of a proposed class or grand division (collectively termed o["o]phytes or O["o]phyta), which have their sexual reproduction accomplished by motile antherozoids acting on o["o]spheres, either while included in their o["o]gonia or after exclusion. [1913 Webster]

Note: This class was at first called O["o]spore[ae], and is made to include all alg[ae] and fungi which have this kind of reproduction, however they may differ in all other respects, the contrasted classes of Thallophytes being Protophytes, Zygophytes, and Carpophytes. The whole system has its earnest advocates, but is rejected by many botanists. See {Carpophyte}. [1913 Webster]