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; peri-, thecium

Example Sentences

Pycnid, pik′nid, n. a special receptacle in ascomycetous fungi, resembling a perithecium, in which stylospores or pycnospores are produced—also Pycnid′ium.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

The group 342 is characterized by a special type of ascocarp, the perithecium.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various

The general feature in all is the presence of a perithecium, which contains and encloses the hymenium, and at length opening by a pore or ostiolum at the apex.

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

The central cell becomes the single ascus, which is characteristic of the species, and the layer which surrounds it constitutes the inner wall of its perithecium.

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

The perithecium consists usually of an external layer of cellular structure, which is either smooth or hairy, usually blackish, and an internal stratum of less compact cells, which give rise to the hymenium.

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