Elaters

Elaters, the name both of fusiform cells in the spore-capsules of certain liverworts (q.v.), with spiral wall-thickening, which assist in the scattering of the spores; and of the four spirally-coiled bands with rounded ends formed by the splitting of an outer coat of the spore in the horse-tails (q.v.). These latter are attached at one point to the spore and coil hygroscopicallv, thus serving to keep together the spores in small groups, as they escape from the sporangium.