spore

A simple asexual unicellular reproductive unit. Spores are produced by the    sporophyte    generation    following meiosis and are thus usually haploid. On germination they develop into the haploid gametophyte. Sometimes the suffix 'spore' is seen in terms, e.g. *carpospore , *zygospore , that describe a diploid cell. See also zoospore , megaspore , microspore.