The carpogonium (plural ''carpogonia'') is the female organ in the
Red Algae (Rhodophyta) which have a highly specialized type of reproduction. It contains the reproductive nucleus. It may contain a number of cells usually without chloroplasts. It shows an elongated process which is the receptive organ for the male gametes.
It gives birth to the
carpospores.
It may also have hairlike structures called ''trichogynes'' which receive sperm before fertilization takes place.
["trichogyne". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 Sep. 2017. Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/trichogyne]
References
Red algae
{{rhodophyta-stub