The hymenium is the tissue layer on the
hymenophore
A hymenophore refers to the hymenium-bearing structure of a fungal fruiting body. Hymenophores can be smooth surfaces, lamellae
Lamella (plural lamellae) means a small plate or flake in Latin, and in English may refer to:
Biology
* Lamella (myc ...
of a
fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into
basidia or
asci ASCI or Asci may refer to:
* Advertising Standards Council of India
* Asci, the plural of ascus, in fungal anatomy
* Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative
* American Society for Clinical Investigation
* Argus Sour Crude Index
* Association of ...
, which produce
spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called
cystidia (
basidiomycetes
Basidiomycota () is one of two large divisions that, together with the Ascomycota, constitute the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the kingdom Fungi. Members are known as basidiomycetes. More specifically, Bas ...
) or
paraphyses (
ascomycetes). Cystidia are often important for microscopic identification. The subhymenium consists of the supportive
hyphae
A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium.
Structure
A hypha consists of one or ...
from which the cells of the hymenium grow, beneath which is the hymenophoral
trama, the hyphae that make up the mass of the hymenophore.
The position of the hymenium is traditionally the first characteristic used in the classification and identification of mushrooms. Below are some examples of the diverse types which exist among the macroscopic
Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota () is one of two large divisions that, together with the Ascomycota, constitute the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the kingdom Fungi. Members are known as basidiomycetes. More specifically, Bas ...
and
Ascomycota
Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The defi ...
.
* In
agarics, the hymenium is on the vertical faces of the
gill
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they ar ...
s.
* In
boletes and
polypores, it is in a spongy mass of downward-pointing tubes.
* In
puffballs, it is internal.
* In
stinkhorns, it develops internally and then is exposed in the form of a foul-smelling gel.
* In
cup fungi
The Pezizaceae (commonly referred to as cup fungi) are a family of fungi in the Ascomycota which produce mushrooms that tend to grow in the shape of a "cup". Spores are formed on the inner surface of the fruit body (mushroom). The cup shape typ ...
, it is on the concave surface of the cup.
* In
teeth fungi, it grows on the outside of tooth-like spines.
Gallery
Image:Lamellen.jpg, Gills of the Fly Agaric ''Amanita muscaria
''Amanita muscaria'', commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus ''Amanita''. It is also a muscimol mushroom. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, ''Amanita muscar ...
''
Image:Suillus luteus.JPG, The bolete Slippery Jack ('' Suillus luteus'') with bright yellow pores
Image:Riesenbovist.jpg, Giant Puffball '' Calvatia gigantea''
Image:Phallus impudicus7 Stinkhorn.jpg, A Stinkhorn, '' Phallus impudicus''
Image:Scarlet elf cap cadnant dingle.jpg, The cup fungus '' Sarcoscypha austriaca''
Image:Polyporus alveolaris pores2.jpg, The large angular pores of ''Polyporus alveolaris
''Polyporus alveolaris'', commonly known as the hexagonal-pored polypore, is a species of fungus in the genus ''Polyporus''. It causes a white rot of dead hardwoods. Found on sticks and decaying logs, its distinguishing features are its yellowi ...
'', the hexagonal-pored polypore
References
*Régis Courtecuisse, Bernard Duhem : ''Guide des champignons de France et d'Europe'' (Delachaux & Niestlé, 1994–2000).
External links
IMA Mycological Glossary: HymeniumHymenium of an ascomycete, ''Monilinia fructicola''
Jack Murphy Mycological Images: HymeniumHymenium of a basidiomycete, ''Russula laurocerasi''
{{Fungus
Fungal morphology and anatomy