thecae

Theca \The"ca\, n.; pl. {Thecae}. [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.
[1913 Webster]

2. (Zool.)
(a) The chitinous cup which protects the hydranths of
certain hydroids.
(b) The more or less cuplike calicle of a coral.
(c) The wall forming a calicle of a coral.
[1913 Webster]

theca
n 1: a case or sheath especially a pollen sac or moss capsule
[syn: {sac}]
2: outer sheath of the pupa of certain insects
[also: {thecae} (pl)]

thecae
See {theca}