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 some cells develop into sterile cells called
cystidia (
basidiomycetes) or
paraphyses (
ascomycetes). Cystidia are often important for microscopic identification. The subhymenium consists of the supportive
hyphae 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 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 def ...
.
* In
agarics, the hymenium is on the vertical faces of the
gills.
* 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, 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 fungus of the genus ''Amanita''. It is a large white-lamella (mycology), gilled, white-spotted mushroom typically featuring a bright red cap covered with ...
''
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'', 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''
Fungal morphology and anatomy
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