n. [ Gr. w, 'o`n an egg + fyto`n a plant. ] (Bot.) Any plant of a proposed class or grand division (collectively termed oophytes or Oophyta), which have their sexual reproduction accomplished by motile antherozoids acting on oospheres, either while included in their oogonia or after exclusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This class was at first called Oosporeae, and is made to include all algae 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 ]