hymenium

American  

[hahy-mee-nee-uhm] / haɪˈmi ni əm /

noun

Mycology.

plural

hymenia

1. the sporogenous layer in a fungus, composed of asci or basidia often interspersed with various sterile structures, as paraphyses.

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hymenium British  

/ haɪˈmiːnɪəm /

noun

1. (in basidiomycetous and ascomycetous fungi) a layer of cells some of which produce the spores

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hymenium Scientific  

/ hī-mē′nē-əm /

plural

hymenia

1. The spore-bearing layer of the fruiting body of certain fungi, containing asci or basidia.

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Other Word Forms

• hymenial adjective
• subhymenial adjective
• subhymenium noun

Etymology

Origin of hymenium

From New Latin, dating back to 1820–30; hymen, -ium

Example Sentences

The shroom has fine, fuzzy hairs that feel like velvet and even has teeth-like structures of its own, also known as hymenium, which are spore-bearing surfaces of a mushroom, typically gills.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2023

Gasteromycetes, in which the hymenium is enclosed in a second case or wrapper, called a peridium, which ruptures when mature, thus releasing the spores.

From Student's Hand-book of Mushrooms of America, Edible and Poisonous by Taylor, Thomas

The fertile threads are not compacted into a true hymenium.

From Student's Hand-book of Mushrooms of America, Edible and Poisonous by Taylor, Thomas

The two families still remained distinct, however, not only because of the dissimilarity in their external features but principally on account of the difference in the disposition and character of the hymenium.

From Student's Hand-book of Mushrooms of America, Edible and Poisonous by Taylor, Thomas

The sporiferous fungi are arranged into four families, viz: Hymenomycetes, in which the hymenium is free, mostly naked, or soon exposed.

From Student's Hand-book of Mushrooms of America, Edible and Poisonous by Taylor, Thomas