What is "hypnocyst"

Hypnocyst \Hyp"no*cyst\, n. [Gr. ? sleep + E. cyst.] (Biol.) A cyst in which some unicellular organisms temporarily inclose themselves, from which they emerge unchanged, after a period of drought or deficiency of food. In some instances, a process of spore formation seems to occur within such cysts.

n. (context biology English) A cyst in which some unicellular organisms temporarily enclose themselves, from which they emerge unchanged, after a period of drought or deficiency of food.