The pileipellis is the uppermost layer of

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 ...

in the pileus of a fungal fruit body. It covers the trama, the fleshy tissue of the fruit body. The pileipellis is more or less synonymous with the cuticle, but the cuticle generally describes this layer as a macroscopic feature, while pileipellis refers to this structure as a microscopic layer. Pileipellis type is an important character in the identification of fungi. Pileipellis types include the cutis, trichoderm, epithelium, and hymeniderm types.

Types

Cutis

A cutis is a type of pileipellis characterized by hyphae that are repent, that is, that run parallel to the pileus surface. In an ixocutis, the hyphae are gelatinous.

Trichoderm

In a trichoderm, the outermost hyphae emerge roughly parallel, like hairs, perpendicular to the cap surface. The prefix "tricho-" comes from a Greek word for "hair". In an ixotrichodermium, the outermost hyphae are gelatinous.

Epithelium

An epithelium is a pileipellis consisting of rounded cells in multiple layers, often connected in chains, and sometimes breaking off.Glossary of ''Coprinus'' site of Kees Uljé
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Hymeniderm

Also called hymeniform, or palisade at times. When viewed from above, a hymeniderm or "cellular cuticle" appears to be paved with roughly circular polygonal elements (similar to the fertile cells of the actual

hymenium The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others so ...

on the gills). The elements may be globular cells or may be the tips of hyphae extending deeper into the surface.Régis Courtecuisse : "Mushrooms of Britain & Europe" (Harper Collins 1999). - see Glossary.Meinhard Moser, translated by Simon Plant: ''Keys to Agarics and Boleti'' (Roger Phillips 1983) - see Technical Glossary.

External links

IMA Mycological Glossary: Pileipellis

References

{{reflist Fungal morphology and anatomy