thallus
thal.lus \'thal-*s\ \'thal-.i-, -.e-\ n or thal.li or thal.lus.es [NL, fr. Gk thallos, fr. thallein to sprout; akin to Alb dal] pl I come forth : a plant body that is characteristic of thallophytes, lacks differentiati on into distinct members (as stem, leaves, and roots), and does not grow from an apical point