acervulus
9.9
A small cushion of fungus threads on a plant where spores form
- noun
- /əˈsɜrvjələs/
- Specialized
:
acervulo
- The fungus produces an acervulus that sits like a small cushion on the host leaf.
Examples
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The fungus forms an acervulus on the surface of the infected leaf.
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Under the microscope, you can see an acervulus developing from the plant tissue.
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Researchers observed multiple acervuli scattered across the host's epidermis.
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The acervulus was found on the decaying leaf.
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These acervuli can be identified under a microscope.
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Researchers observed multiple acervuli forming a dense mat on the surface of the infected plant.
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Under the microscope, an acervulus can be seen emerging from the tissue of the plant.
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word acervulus comes from the Latin acervus ('heap') and the small ending -ulus ('small'), so it literally means 'little heap'. That's why an acervulus is a small, cushion-like pile of fungal threads on a plant.
