peridium

[ puh-rid-ee-uh m ]

/ pəˈrɪd i əm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peridium ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural pe·rid·e·a [puh-rid-ee-uh] /pəˈrɪd i ə/. Mycology.

the outer enveloping coat of the fruit body in many fungi.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

periderm, peridesmitis, peridesmium, perididymis, perididymitis, peridium, peridiverticulitis, peridot, peridot of ceylon, peridotite, periduodenitis

Origin of peridium

1815–25; < New Latin < German pērídion, diminutive of pḗra wallet; see -idium

Related forms

pe·rid·i·al, adjectivepe·rid·i·i·form

[puh-rid-ee-uh-fawrm] /pəˈrɪd i əˌfɔrm/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peridium

The opening of a peridium, when ripe, to discharge the spores.
Among the Mushrooms|Ellen M. Dallas and Caroline A. Burgin
The peridium is round or conical and it dehisces by breaking away at the base.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise|M. E. Hard
The capillitium and fragment of the peridium of the same species, 380.
The North American Slime-Moulds|Thomas H. (Thomas Huston) MacBride
The peridium is round, often slightly depressed above, plicate below, where it is abruptly contracted into a long stem-like base.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise|M. E. Hard

The threads, or capillitium, which bear the spores proceed from the walls of the peridium and form the central columella.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise|M. E. Hard

British Dictionary definitions for peridium

peridium

/ (pəˈrɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -ridia (-ˈrɪdɪə)

the distinct outer layer of the spore-bearing organ in many fungi

Word Origin for peridium

C19: from Greek pēridion a little wallet, from pēra leather bag, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012