epithecium

[ ep-uh-thee-shee-uhm, -see-uhm ]

noun

, Mycology.

, plural ep·i·the·ci·a [ep-, uh, -, thee, -shee-, uh, -see-, uh].

1. the surface layer of tissue of the fruiting body of lichens and fungi, formed by the union of the tips of the paraphyses over the spore sacs.

Other Words From

• ep·i·the·ci·al [ep-, uh, -, thee, -shee-, uh, l, -sh, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epithecium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; epi-, thecium