'exposed-spored' is a Modern English compound formed from 'exposed' + 'spored'. 'exposed' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'exponere' (via Old French 'exposer'), where the prefix 'ex-' meant 'out' and 'ponere' meant 'to place'. 'spore' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'spora' meaning 'seed' or 'sowing'.

'exposed-spored' was coined in modern botanical English by compounding the past participle 'exposed' with the noun element 'spored' (from 'spore'), following descriptive patterns (e.g. 'leaved', 'toothed') used to denote plant or fungal features.

Originally 'exposed' meant 'to put out' and 'spore' meant 'seed/sowing'; together the compound evolved to the specialized botanical meaning 'having spores exposed on the surface'.