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cystidium

American  
[si-stid-ee-uhm] / sɪˈstɪd i əm /

noun

Mycology.
cystidia plural
  1. (in certain basidiomycetous fungi) one of the large, inflated, sterile cells growing between the basidia and usually projecting beyond them.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of cystidium

From New Latin, dating back to 1855–60; see origin at cyst-, -idium

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This species is unique for the dorsal attachment of its stipe to the top of the pileus, and the abundant cystidia covering all surfaces of the fruiting body.

From Salon Apr. 26, 2025

There are a few cystidia in the hymenium, colorless, thin walled, clavate, the portion above the hymenium cylindrical, and 30–40 × 10–12 µ.

From Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc. by Atkinson, George Francis

The cystidia are usually larger than the basidia, varying in size and form in different species.

From Fungi: Their Nature and Uses by Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)

The evidence seems to be in favour of regarding the cystidia as barren conditions of basidia.

From Fungi: Their Nature and Uses by Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)

The surface of the gills as well as the edges is provided with clavate cystidia which are filled with a yellow pigment, giving to the gills the bright yellow color so characteristic.

From Studies of American Fungi. Mushrooms, Edible, Poisonous, etc. by Atkinson, George Francis

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