spermatophylax
Spermatophylax is a term of Greek origin, combining "sperma" meaning seed and "phylax" meaning guardian. In biological contexts, it refers to a structure or cell that protects or stores seeds or reproductive cells. The most common usage of spermatophylax is in the study of plant reproduction, specifically in relation to seeds. It can describe specialized tissues within a flower or fruit that safeguard developing seeds from damage, predation, or environmental stress. For example, the pericarp of a fruit, which is the part that develops from the ovary wall, can be considered a spermatophylax as it encloses and protects the seed.
The term can also be applied more broadly to any structure that serves a protective function for