What is "thecae"

Theca \The"ca\, n.; pl. Thec[ae]. [L., fr. Gr. ? a case to put anything in. See Tick a cover.]

1. A sheath; a case; as, the theca, or cell, of an anther; the theca, or spore case, of a fungus; the theca of the spinal cord.

2. (Zo["o]l.)

   1. The chitinous cup which protects the hydranths of certain hydroids.

   2. The more or less cuplike calicle of a coral.

   3. The wall forming a calicle of a coral.

n. (plural of theca English)

1. n. a case or sheath especially a pollen sac or moss capsule [syn: sac]

2. outer sheath of the pupa of certain insects

3. [also: thecae (pl)]

See theca