The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a

basidiocarp In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma () is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do no ...

or ascocarp ( fungal fruiting body) that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium.Moore-Landecker, E: "Fundamentals of the Fungi", page 560. Prentice Hall, 1972. The hymenium (

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 ...

) may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus. A pileus is characteristic of

agarics An agaric () is a type of fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus. In the UK, agarics are called "mushroom ...

, boletes, some

polypores Polypores are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside (see Delimitation for exceptions). They are a morphological group of basidiomycetes-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi, and not all polypo ...

tooth fungi The hydnoid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota with basidiocarps (fruit bodies) producing spores on pendant, tooth-like or spine-like projections. They are colloquially called tooth fungi. Originally such fungi were referred to the ge ...

, and some ascomycetes.

Classification

Pilei can be formed in various shapes, and the shapes can change over the course of the developmental cycle of a fungus. The most familiar pileus shape is hemispherical or ''convex.'' Convex pilei often continue to expand as they mature until they become flat. Many well-known species have a convex pileus, including the button mushroom, various ''

Amanita The genus ''Amanita'' contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded edible species. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resul ...

'' species and boletes. Some, such as the parasol mushroom, have distinct bosses or umbos and are described as '' umbonate''. An umbo is a knobby protrusion at the center of the cap. Some fungi, such as chanterelles have a funnel- or trumpet-shaped appearance. In these cases the pileus is termed ''infundibuliform''.

Image:Campanulate cap icon.svg, Campanulate (bell-shaped) Image:Conical cap icon.svg, Conical Image:Convex cap icon.svg, Convex Image:Depressed cap icon.svg, Depressed Image:Flat cap icon.svg, Flat Image:Infundibuliform cap icon.svg, Infundibuliform Image:Offset cap icon.png, Offset Image:Ovate cap icon.svg, Ovate Image:Umbillicate cap icon.svg, Umbilicate Image:Umbonate cap icon.svg, Umbonate

Notes

References

*Arora, D: "Mushrooms Demystified", Ten Speed Press, 1986. {{DEFAULTSORT:Pileus (Mycology) Fungal morphology and anatomy Mycology ja:キノコの部位#傘

Classification

See also

Notes

References