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Glite Dictionary
pycnidium

pycnidium

9.9
A small bottle-shaped body in some fungi that holds tiny asexual spores
  • noun
  • /pɪkˈnɪdiəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : picnidio
  • Many fungi produce conidia inside a pycnidium during their life cycles.

Examples

  • The botanist identified a pycnidium forming on the surface of the plant leaf.

  • A mature pycnidium may release spores involved in asexual reproduction.

  • The pycnidium is essential for the reproduction of certain fungi.

  • Researchers discovered a new type of pycnidium in the forest.

  • A mature pycnidium can produce numerous conidia for asexual reproduction.

  • Many fungi have a pycnidium that contains conidia for spreading spores.

  • The scientist examined a pycnidium to study its role in fungal reproduction.

Synonyms

fruiting body
vspycnidium
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A part of some fungi and plants that makes and releases spores

is a specific type that is asexual and flask-shaped holding conidia
pycnium
vspycnidium
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bottle-shaped part of some fungi where they make cells for reproduction

is flask-shaped but specifically produces and holds asexual conidia

Surface Forms

pycnidium singular
pycnidia plural

Morphology

pycnidium = pycn + idium

The word is built from specialized Greek combining forms (pycn- + -idium) that are not productive standalone English morphemes, so an average B1 learner cannot derive the meaning from the parts.

Etymology

The word pycnidium comes from the Greek root pykno- meaning 'dense' or 'thick' and the ending -idium meaning 'small'. Think of a small, dense flask that holds spores, so a pycnidium is the tiny, flask-shaped body where certain fungi store and release asexual spores.