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; see origin at peri-, thecium

Example Sentences

Structure of these bodies shown by Moeller is entirely carbonous, hollow, each forming a single, carbonous perithecium.

From Synopsis of Some Genera of the Large Pyrenomycetes Camilla, Thamnomyces, Engleromyces by Lloyd, C. G.

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)

A perithecium, or cell excavated in the stroma which fulfils the functions of a perithecium, is always present.

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

These asci are variously shaped bodies and are known in different orders by different names, such as ascoma, apothecium, perithecium, and receptacle.

From The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Its Habitat and its Time of Growth by Hard, Miron Elisha

But in the Discomycetes the hymenium soon becomes more or less exposed, and in the latter it is enclosed in a perithecium.

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