carpospore

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A carpospore is a diploid spore produced by red algae. After fertilization, the alga's carpogonium subdivides into carpospores, and generally the largest type of spore (larger than bispores, which are larger again than tetraspores).{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1146/annurev.es.17.110186.001421 | jstor = 2096997 | last1 = Steneck | first1 = R. S. | title = The Ecology of Coralline Algal Crusts: Convergent Patterns and Adaptative Strategies | journal = Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics | volume = 17 | pages = 273–303 | year = 1986 }} The wall of the carposporangium then breaks down, releasing the spores into the environment.{{cite book |title=Algae |last=Hoek |first=Christiaan |author2=D. G. Mann|author3=Hans Martin Jahns|year=1995 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-31687-3 |page=63 }}