Elater

"Elaters" is also used as a common name for the Elateridae (click beetles). For the click beetle genus, see Elater (beetle).

An elater is a cell (or structure attached to a cell) that is hygroscopic, and therefore will change shape in response to changes in moisture in the environment. Elaters come in a variety of forms, but are always associated with plant spores. In plants that do not have seeds, they function in dispersing the spores to a new location.