perithecium

American  

[per-uh-thee-shee-uhm, -shuhm, -see-uhm] / ˌpɛr əˈθi ʃi əm, -ʃəm, -si əm /

noun

Mycology.

plural

perithecia

1. the fruiting body of ascomycetous fungi, typically a minute, more or less completely closed, globose or flask-shaped body enclosing the asci.

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perithecium British  

/ ˌpɛrɪˈθiːsɪəm /

noun

1. botany a flask-shaped structure containing asci that are discharged from an apical pore; a type of ascocarp

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perithecium Scientific  

/ pĕr′ə-thē′shē-əm,-sē-əm /

plural

perithecia

1. A small flask-shaped fruiting body in some ascomycete fungi that encloses the asci (spore sacs).

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Other Word Forms

• perithecial adjective

Etymology

Origin of perithecium

From New Latin, dating back to 1825–35; see origin at peri-, thecium

Example Sentences

As in the Discomycetes, the hymenium consists of asci, paraphyses, and mucilage, but the whole forms a less compact and more gelatinous mass within the perithecium.

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

As at present limited, the Pyrenomycetes are "ascigerous fungi having the fructification enclosed within a perithecium."

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

The spores are produced on slender threads springing from the inner wall of the perithecium, and, when mature, are expelled from an orifice at the apex.

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

The interior of the perithecium is occupied by a gelatinous nucleus, consisting of elongated cylindrical asci, each enclosing eight globose hyaline sporidia, with slender branched paraphyses.

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

Spores naked, mostly terminal, on inconspicuous threads, free or enclosed in a perithecium Coniomycetes.

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