Pileus (mycology)

The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp (fungal fruiting body) that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium.[1] The hymenium (hymenophore) may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus. A pileus is characteristic of agarics, boletes, some polypores, tooth fungi, and some ascomycetes.

Photo of a pileus or mushroom cap

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 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.

  • Campanulate (bell-shaped)
    Campanulate (bell-shaped)
  • Conical
    Conical
  • Convex
    Convex
  • Depressed
    Depressed
  • Flat
    Flat
  • Infundibuliform
    Infundibuliform
  • Offset
    Offset
  • Ovate
    Ovate
  • Umbilicate
    Umbilicate
  • Umbonate
    Umbonate

See also

Notes
  1. Moore-Landecker, E: "Fundamentals of the Fungi", page 560. Prentice Hall, 1972.

References
  • Arora, D: "Mushrooms Demystified", Ten Speed Press, 1986.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.