in vascular plants, a group of fused organs, or sporangia, in which the spores develop. Synangia are characteristic of the ancient group Psilotophyta, some ferns (especially Marattia), and fernlike gymnosperms (seed ferns). Special types of synangia called microsynangia are found in ancient groups of gymnosperms. Sometimes the term “synangium” is used to describe the half of the anther that is morphologically different from the true synangium.