apothecium Hear it!

apothecium Definition

apo·theci·um (ap′ō t̸hē′s̸hē əm, -sē əm; -ap′ə-)

noun pl. -·cia---ə

Bot. an open cuplike structure containing sacs in which sexual spores are developed, as in lichens and certain fungi

Etymology: ModL < L apotheca (see apothecary) + -ium

apothecium Related Forms
ap′o·the′ci·al (--s̸həl, --s̸hē əl) adjective
apothecium Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • disc-shaped: Right: close-up of part of the thallus, showing the disc-shaped apothecia which release ascospores. [ © Jim Deacon ] Fig.
  • cup-shaped: The fungus also produces small, blue-green, cup-shaped apothecia, but they are uncommon.
  • blue-green: Small blue-green apothecia are sometimes seen on the surface of colonized wood, but are not common.