Mushrooms Glossary
Definitions for some of the more commonly used specialist terms in mycology.
- Adnate
- The gills join the stem to the full depth of the gill. Neither curving up to the cap or running down the stem.
- Adnexed
- The gills join the stem to a part depth of the gill. The gills are seen to curve up towards the cap, but do join the stem.
- Cortina
- A cobweb-like network fine threads joining the edge of the cap and the stem. This provides protection for the young gills in some species (e.g. the Web Caps).
- Cortinal zone
- The remnant of the cortina found on the stem after the cap has expanded.
- Decurrent
- The gills are seen to curve down along the stem.
- Eccentric
- Off-center - usually with reference to the position of the stem relative to the center of the cap.
- Fibrillose
- Covered in small fibers
- Free
- The gills are seen to curve up and join the cap. They do not join onto the stem at all.
- Gleba
- The spore bearing tissue in the center of stomach fungi (puff balls, earth balls and earth stars)
- Latex
- Fluid exuded by Milkcap fungi when damaged. It is usually cloudy and often white, but in some species may be yellow orange, red or even clear.
- Mycelium
- The mass of thread-like or felt-like fibers that make up the hidden 'body' of a fungus.
- Pellicle
- An easily detached skin or cuticle on the cap of a fungus
- Pore
- The mouth of a tube on a Bolete or polypore fungus
- Ring
- The remains of partial view left attached to the stem.
- Ring zone
- Mark left on the stem which indicated where the partial veil was attached.
- Scurfy
- Rough or velvety, covered in small scales.
- Sinuate
- The gills join the stem to a part depth of the gill (as with adnexed) but then curved down (as with decurrent) just before joining the stem. Appears as a small notch in the gills just before the stem.
- Spore
- These are the microscopic 'seeds' of the fungus
- Spore print
- A deposit of spores from a cap placed for several hours on a flat surface (often paper). The colour of the deposit is used as an identifying feature of fungi.
- Stipe
- Another word for the stem of a fungus which supports the cap
- Striated
- Covered in fine lines. Often used to describe thin parallel lines around the edge of a cap.
- Tubes
- The spore bearing structures of Boletes and Polypores. They form a layer under the cap.
- Umbo
- A central hump or boss in the middle of the cap.
- Umbonate
- With an umbo.
- Veil
- A sheet of tissue used to protective a fungus during its development. A universal veil encloses the entire fruit body. A partial veil joins the cap to the stem protecting the gills.
- Volva
- The remains of a universal veil forming a cup-like bag around the base of the stem.