Spórák

Spórák are spore-producing structures found in a variety of organisms, most commonly fungi and plants, and sometimes algae. In general, a sporangium is a sac or case in which spores are formed and released for dispersal. Spórák occur as part of the life cycle for reproduction in many fungi and can also form as part of the alternation of generations in plants and algae.

In fungi, spórák (sporangia) develop on specialized hyphae called sporangiophores and enclose numerous haploid spores produced by mitosis. When mature, the spórák rupture or open to shed spores, which disperse by wind or water and germinate into new hyphae or other stages. Some fungi produce smaller structures called sporangiola within a sporangiophore.

In plants and certain algae, analogous structures are also called sporangia. Sporophytes generate sporangia that contain spores produced by meiosis; these spores germinate into haploid generations, such as gametophytes in plants. In ferns, the sporangia commonly occur in clusters called sori on the undersides of fronds and may bear an elongated stalk known as a sporangiophore in some species.

Spórák are important for reproduction, dispersal, and genetic variation. Their morphology and development vary across groups, reflecting adaptations to different habitats and life cycles. Terminology often overlaps with sporogenesis and sporocarp in fungi and with the broader concept of sporangia in plants and algae.