DIV Lab 4: Fungi

annulus

a circle of hyphae around the stipe of some mushrooms that had a partial veil

conk

the basidiocarp of a wood decaying fungus, usually a polypore

context

internal tissue of a fungal fruiting body

cortina

a spiderweb-like partial veil

decurrent

descending or running down the stalk; a form of gill attachment

fruit body

the fleshy to hard reproductive structure of a fungus, commonly called a mushroom; some mycologist object to the use of the term fruit in reference to a fungus

gill

thin to thick, knife blade-like structure on the undersurface of the cap on which spores are produces

gleba

spore-bearing tissue of stinkhorns, puffballs and other ‘Gasteromycetes’

heterotroph

an organism that cannot manufacture organic compounds and so must feed on organic material that have originated in other plants and animals

hymenium

a membrane, the layer of asci on an ascoma, or of basidia on a basidioma, together with any associated sterile hyphae

hymenophore

the entirety of the structures bearing the hymenium, can be gills, folds, tubes, teeth, or a smooth surface

mushroom

a fleshy fruiting body of a fungus, especially of a basidiomycete of the family Agaricaceae (as opposed to conk)

mycelium

a mass of hyphae, often hidden in the substrate, forming the body of a fungus, oomycete or chytrid

mycorrhiza

a symbiotic association between certain fungi and plant roots; characteristic of most vascular plants, mutually beneficial relationship

partial veil

a layer of fungal tissue, present in some mushrooms, that covers and protects developing gills, pores or tubes from margin to stalk; remnants may be visible on cap margin or as a ring (aka annulus) around the stalk

patches/warts:

small patches of tissue that remain on the top of a mushroom cap when the universal veil ruptures

pathogen

an organism that causes a disease

peridium

the protective layer that encloses the mass of spores within puffballs and other ‘Gasteromycetes’, varies from papery thin to thick and rubbery or leathery; also known as the cortex or the pellis

pileus

the cap-like part of mushrooms, basidiomata and certain ascomata; also known as the cap

pore

the open end of the tube of a bolete or polypore, (see gill, teeth)

pore surface:

collective ends of tubes

rhizomorph

a group of thick, rope-like strands of hyphae growing together as a single organized unit

ring

remnants of the partial veil that remain attached to the stalk after the veil ruptures

saprobe

an organism that lives off dead or decaying matter

spore

a microscopic reproductive cell with the ability to germinate and form hyphae

stipe

the structure that arises from the substrate and supports the cap or spore case of a mushroom; also known as the stalk or the stem

teeth

spines that point downward; spore-producing surfaces (see gill, pore)

tube

narrow, parallel, spore-producing cylinders on the undersurface of the cap of a bolete or polypore

umbo

a pointed or rounded elevation at the center of a mushroom cap

universal veil

membranous layer of fungal tissue present on some mushrooms that completely encloses the immature stage

volva

a typically cup-like sac that remains around the base of a mushroom stalk after the universal veil ruptures