Definition: A group of hydrous aluminium phyllosilicate (phyllosilicates being a subgroup of silicate minerals) minerals (see clay minerals), that are typically less than 2micrometres in diameter. Clay consists of a variety of phyllosilicate minerals rich in silicon and aluminium oxides and hydroxides which include variable amounts of structural water.
Definition: The important feature of homospory is the four fold division involved in spore production, this takes the form of either a tetrahedra which gives a trilete (Y shaped scar) spore or a tetragon which gives a monolete (single linear scar) spore.
