Glossary of Mycology Terms: P

Papillate

[ puh-PILL-ate ]

Umbonate with a nipple-like bump.

All types of mushroom cap shapes.

Parabolic

[ par-uh-BOL-ik ]

Half-egg shaped; symmetrical plane curve.

Taller than a typical convex cap, but shorter than a cylindric cap.
All types of mushroom cap shapes.

Parasite

[ PAR-uh-site ]

an organism that lives in or on another organism. the parasite will obtain nutrients by feeding off its host.

Parasitism

[ PAR-uh-si-tiz-um ]

a relationship where an organism benefits at the expense of a host organism.

Parasitoidism

[ par-uh-SI-toi-diz-um ]

When insect larvae feed off the tissue of a host until the larvae mature. Often resulting in the death of the host.

Partial Veil

Tissue covering the lamellae (gills) that extends from the cap margins to the stipe (stem). Once broken it could form an annulus (ring) on the stem or hang from the cap margins (appendiculated).

See Stem and Veils.

Peridioles

[ peh-RI-di-oles ]

Oval-shaped spore capsules found in the peridium of bird-nest (Nidulariaceae) fungi.

Peridium

[ peh-RID-ee-um ]

a protecting wall for spore-producing structures in fungi.

Perithecium

[ per-i-THEE-shee-um ]

A flask-shaped or spherical fruiting body of fungi in the Ascomycota division. Ascospores are dispersed through a small pore at the top called an ostiole.

Fungi in the Sordariomycetes class (also known as Pyrenomycetes).

Photobiont

[ fo-to-BY-ont ]

The algae or cyanobacteria portion of a lichen.

Fungal symbiont: Mycobiont

Photosynthesis

[ fo-to-SIN-thuh-sis ]

The process organisms in the kingdom Plantae use to convert sunlight into energy.

Phyla

[ FY-luh ]

A taxonomy classification below "Kingdom" that groups all classes of organisms. Used for kingdom Animalia; Division is used for kingdoms Fungi and Plantae.

plural Phylum

Pileus

[ PI-lee-us ]

The technical term for a mushroom cap; Top of a fruiting body.

plural Pilei

Plane

[ playn ]

Flat or level surface

All types of mushroom cap shapes.

Plasmogamy

[ plaz-MOG-uh-mee ]

The fusing of a haploid male (+) and female (-) cells resulting in a dikaryotic cell.

Plicate

[ PLY-kate ]

Parellel pleated margins. They are best described as fan-like or umbrella-like as if the surface of the cap was folded. Plicate margins are more defined and ridged than Striate or Sulcate. Also referred to as pleated or ridged.

All types of mushroom cap margins.

Polypore

[ POLY-pore ]

a shelf-like fungus that grows on wood and uses pores to disperse spores.

a common name for fungi in the family Polyporaceae.

Polysaccharides

[ poly-SAK-a-rides ]

Long chains of simple carbohydrate molecules called monosaccharides.

Examples: starch, insulin, cellulose, or glycogen

Pore

[ pawr ]

An opening where spores are dispersed.