Ovulo

Ovulo is a term used in several Romance languages to denote the female gamete in animals (the ovum) and, in botany, the plant structure known as the ovule. The word derives from Latin ovulus, meaning small egg. In Italian, ovulo refers to an egg cell; in Portuguese, óvulo can refer to the plant ovule. In English, the corresponding terms are ovum for the animal cell and ovule for the plant structure.

In animals, the ovum is a large haploid cell produced by oogenesis in the ovaries. It typically contains nutrients and organelles to support early development after fertilization by a sperm. The fusion of sperm and ovum forms a zygote, which begins embryonic development. In humans and many other species, ovulation releases a mature oocyte capable of fertilization.

In seed plants, the ovule is the structure inside the ovary that contains the female gametophyte. After fertilization, the ovule develops into a seed, while the ovary matures into fruit. An ovule consists of integuments surrounding the nucellus and the more distant female gametophyte, including the egg cell. The micropyle is a small opening through which pollen tubes may enter in many species.

Usage notes emphasize linguistic context: “ovulo” may indicate an animal egg cell or a plant ovule depending on the language and context. In scientific English, the terms ovum and ovule are distinct, with ovule also designating the seed-bearing structure in plants.