adnate	used to describe gills attached to the stem for their total width
adnexed	gills tapering toward the stem so that their attachment is narrow
amyloid	blue black when stained with Meltzers iodine
annulus	ring of tissue on the stem left from a torn partial veil; collar
apiculus	the projection on a spore by which it is attached to the sterigma (spore stalk)
apothecium	open saucer-shaped fruit body in a group of Ascomycetes called Discomycetes
appendiculate	used to describe the cap margin when hung with veil fragments
appressed	flattened down on a surface
ascocarp	fruiting body of Ascomycetes
Ascomycete	name of fungal group that all bear spores in sac-like cells called asci (see ascus )
ascus	the cylindrical or club-shaped spore-producing cell that characterises the Ascomycetes. Contains (usually 8) ascospores
autodigestion	self digesting or liquefying. Characteristic of the genus Coprinus
Basidiomycete	name of fungal group that all bear spores on basidia (see basidium)
basidium	club shaped sexual spore producing cell (or cells) that characterises the Basidiomycetes
basidiospore	spores borne by basidia (see basidium)
bulbous	usually used to describe the swollen base of a stem
caespitose	crowded together in a cluster but not attached to each other
campanulate	bell shaped
cap	top part of a mushroom which bears the fertile tissue
capillitium	modified hyphae mixed with spores in the Gasteromycetes
carpophore	name given to the stem, cap and gills (fruiting body as a whole)
cartilaginous	used to describe consistency of stem tissue; does not bend but breaks with a snap
caulocystidium	a cystidium on the stem
cellular	where the outermost layer of the cap (cuticle) is made up of spherical cells
cheilocystidium	a cystidium on the edge of a gill
chryocystidium	a cystidium that stains yellow in KOH or ammonia
cinereous	ash grey in colour
clamp connections	semi-circular side branches that grow around the septa in many basidiomycetes
clavate	club-shaped
concolourous	of the same colour
context	the flesh of the fungus
convergent	used to describe the central tissue of the gill when it curves towards the mid-line
convex	used to describe a cap that is regularly rounded or broadly obtuse
coprophilous	inhabiting dung
coriaceous	leathery
cortina	a cob-web like partial veil of silky fibres
crenate	scalloped
cystidium	special large sterile cells amongst the basidia on the gills of many fungi – often of distinctive shape and used in classification. Also found on surfaces of cap and stem.
cuticle	the surface layer of the cap or stem, usually distinct from the flesh
decurrent	gills running down the stem (like chanterelles)
depressed	used to describe a cap where the central portion lower than the margin
dextrinoid	staining brick red with Meltzers iodine
diaphragm	a thin membrane that separates the gleba from the stem in a puffball
dichotomous	equally forking into two (used for gills)
dimitic	when two types of hyphae are present in tissues of members of Polyporaceae
distant	of gills that are widely spaced
eccentric	off set to one side. used to describe how the stem attaches to the cap.
echiniulate	covered in spines
ellipsoid	rugby football shaped
emarginate	of gills notched near the stem, similar to sinuate but with a much more conspicuous notch
endoperidium	the innermost wall of the fruit body of Gasteromycetes
evanescent	ephemeral, soon disappearing
exdoperidium	the outermost wall of the fruit body of Gasteromycetes
divergent	used to describe the central flesh of gills where hyphae turn outwards from the mid-line
farinaceous	smells and tastes of flour
fibrillose	used of cap or stem surface with thin thread-like filaments which are more or less parallel
fibrose	composed of tough, stringy material
filamentous	of caps with a cuticle composed of elongate hyphae as in the mycelium (not globose cells)
fimbriate	fringed with cystidia or finely torn
floccose	covered in loose cottony scales
foetid	with a strong offensive smell. (also spelled "fetid")
free	gills do not attach to the stem
fugaceous	soon disappearing e.g. used of scales
furfuraceous	covered in tiny particles like sand grains
fusiform	spindle-shaped tapering at both ends
gelatinous	jelly like
gills	the plates of tissue bearing the hymenium in an agaric
gleba	the tissues enclosed within the fruit bodies of the Gasteromycetes
glutinous	when cap surface is covered with a slimy layer of gelatinous hyphae
granulose	covered with small granules
hirsute	hairy
hispid	covered with stiff bristle-like hairs usually visible to the naked eye.
hyaline	clear and colourless
hygrophanous	of water-soaked appearance and translucent, changing colour on drying (usually paler) and more opaque
hymenium	the fertile sexual spore-bearing tissues (In an agaric this covers the gills.)
hyphae	filamentous threads of a fungal mycelium
hypogeous	a fruit-body produced below ground – like truffles
imbricate	overlapping like roof tiles
infundibuliform	funnel-shaped
innate	of scales not readily detached as in Lepiota
intermediate	used of gills that do not reach the stem
involute	of the cap rolled inwards at the margin
lacunose	a surface with wide sunken pits like an irregular honey comb
lamellae	other name for gills
lamellulae	gills that don’t reach the stem interspersed between lamellae
lamellate	with gills
latex	fluid often milky that oozes from cut surfaces in some species. Characteristic of Lactarius
lignicolous	growing on wood
luminescent	emission of light, glows in the dark. Characteristic of some fungi e.g. Omphalotus
marginate	when there is a small circular ridge around the bulb at the base of the stem where the universal veil was attached
mucilaginous	sticky, covered in slime
mycelium	the whole body of a fungus. colony of hyphae arising from one inoculation
mycorrhiza	a structure formed between a fungus and individual root tips that enables exchange nutrients OR a mutualistic symbiosis between roots and a fungus
pallid	off white
paraphysis	a sterile hair like or club-shaped cell found in amongst the asci of Ascomycetes
parasite	an heterotrophic organism that needs to obtain its organic nutrients from a living organism
partial veil	a membrane of sterile tissue stretching between the edge of the cap and the stem to cover the gills in some agarics during development
pedicel	stalk usually used to describe the short stem on puff ball spores
perforate	with holes
peridium	the outer wall of a fungus, especially puffballs
peridioles	largish bodies that contain the spore enclosed within the peridium in the birds nest fungi (Nidulariales) They are dispersed as a unit.
perithecium	the flask-shaped fruiting bodies of certain Ascomycetes. They contain asci
peronate	of stems ensheathed by a volva
pileus	a cap especially in Agarics
pilose	with long hairs
plage	a smooth area just below the apiculus found on some rough spores
plane	flat especially of caps in agarics
pleurocystidium	cystidium occurring on the face of a gill
plicate	folded like a fan; especially of caps in agarics
popres	the orifices of the tubes of Polyporaceae
pruinose	covered with a bloom rather like chalk dust; finely powdered
pubescent	covered with fine short hairs
punctate	marked with minute dots points scales or hollows
repand	upturned especially of caps in Agarics
resupinate	fruiting structure that lies flat on the substratum with the hymenium covering the upper surface
reticulate	net-like, marks made by lines veins or ridges which cross one another
rhizomorph	a mycelial strand where hyphae aggregate together in parallel. Commonly found attached to the base of fruiting bodies
ring	the membranous remnant of the partial veil
rimose	splitting radially
rugose	coarsely wrinkled
rugulose	finely wrinkled
saccate	of the volva cup or bag-shaped
saprophyte	obtaining organic nutrients from dead material
scabrous	rough with short projections in the form of granules or scales
sclerotium	a (often spherical) aggregate of hyphae often with a hard dark-coloured rind, generally thought to be a resting stage with better capacity for survival than mycelium . It can germinate to produce hyphae, or fruit bodies.
septate	divided by cross walls
serrate	saw-toothed,used to describe the margin of gills
serrulate	finely toothed
sessile	without a stalk
sinuate	notched used to describe gills which have a notch before attaching to the stem
sphaerocysts	globose cells in the flesh of Russulaceae, Hypholoma and Stropharia
spore	reproductive structure often of a single rounded cell with a thickened wall that disseminates the fungus
sporophore	fungal fruiting body
squamose	covered with scales
squamulose	covered with minute scales
squamulose	covered with very small scales
stellate	star-shaped
sterigma	the stem at the top of the basidium which bears each spore
stipe	stem usually of a toadstool
stipitate	with a stem
striate	with fine radiating lines or furrows around the cap margin
stroma	a hard conglomerate of hyphae , found in some Ascomycetes
subdecurrent	where gills run down the stem for only a short distance
subglobose	almost spherical
subhymenium	differentiated tissue that gives rise to the hymenium
substrate	the material on whioch a fungus grows e.g. on wood
subtormentose	more or less woolly
sulcate	grooved
superior	where the ring is attached above the middle of the stem
tormentose	densely woolly; velvety or with thick soft hairs
trama	name given to the flesh or context of the cap or gills
truncate	ending abruptly as if cut off
tubes	hollow cylindrical structures that bear the hymenium . They replace the gills in polypores
umbilicate	used to describe cap having a central depression
umbo	a raised conical mound on the centre of the cap
umbonate	cap with a raised knob in the centre
ungulate	hoof-shaped
universal veil	a membrane that initially entirely surrounds the fruiting body. It is broken as the cap expands the stem extends and the gills mature
veil	a thin membrane covering the gills during the development of the toadstool
ventricose	enlarged in the middle
verrucose	covered with small rounded warts - used to describe rough spores
vinaceous	pinkish
viscid	slimy
volva	the expanded bulbous remains of the universal veil found at the base of the stipe in some toadstools e.g. Amanita and Lepiota .
zonate	marked with concentric bands of colour