haustorium
1. In certain parasitic fungi, an outgrowth from a hypha that penetrates a host cell in order to absorb nutrients from it.

2. In some parasitic flowering plants (angiosperms), outgrowths of the roots.

haustorium
1. In certain parasitic Fungi, an outgrowth from a hypha that penetrates a host cell in order to absorb nutrients from it.

2. In some parasitic flowering plants (angiosperms), outgrowths of the roots.

haustorium (pl. haustoria) A specialized structure of certain parasitic plants and fungi that penetrates the cells of the host plant to absorb nutrients. In parasitic fungi haustoria are formed from enlarged hyphae and in parasitic flowering plants, such as the dodder (Cuscuta), they are outgrowths of the stem.