胚珠是种子植物由一或二层珠被所包覆的大孢子囊，每个大孢子囊会形成一枚（鲜为二枚以上）的大孢子，并在稍后形成雌配子体或者发育成胚囊，且在受精后会发育成为一枚种子。

裸子植物的胚珠是裸露的，如松杉目植物构成球果的果鳞向轴面上有两个裸露的胚珠，受精后发育成具翅的种子。

被子植物的胚珠包被在雌蕊的子房内，一般呈球形，以珠柄着生于子房内壁的胎座上，数目因植物的种类而异；被子植物胚珠的结构，从胚珠的纵切面中，可分珠被和珠心两部分。珠被一般分为内外两层，在胚珠顶部，珠被不完全连合，留有小孔称珠孔；珠心为一二层薄壁细胞，其内部为由大孢子发育而来的胚囊，胚囊内有卵细胞、助细胞、极核和反足细胞；珠被和珠心的连合部位称合点。

In seed plants, the ovule ("small egg") is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: The integument(s) forming its outer layer(s), the nucellus (or remnant of the megasporangium), and female gametophyte (formed from haploid megaspore) in its center. The female gametophyte—specifically termed a megagametophyte—is also called the embryo sac in angiosperms. The megagametophyte produces an egg cell (or several egg cells in some groups) for the purpose of fertilization. After fertilization, the ovule develops into a seed.