Pileus (mycology)

In Mycology (the branch of biology that includes the study of mushrooms and other fungi), the pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp (fungal fruiting body) that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium (hymenophore) may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus. A pileus is characteristic of agarics, boletes, some polypores, tooth fungi, and some ascomycetes.

Photo of a pileus or mushroom cap

Classification

Pilei can be formed in various shapes, and the shapes can change over the course of the developmental cycle of a fungus. The most familiar pileus shape is hemispherical or convex. Convex pilei often continue to expand as they mature until they become flat. Many well-known species have a convex pileus, including the button mushroom, various Amanita species and boletes.

Some, such as the parasol mushroom, have distinct bosses or umbos and are described as umbonate. An umbo is a knobby protrusion at the center of the cap. Some fungi, such as chanterelles have a funnel- or trumpet-shaped appearance. In these cases the pileus is termed infundibuliform.

• 
  Campanulate (bell-shaped)
• 
  Conical
• 
  Convex
• 
  Depressed
• 
  Flat
• 
  Infundibuliform
• 
  Offset
• 
  Ovate
• 
  Umbilicate
• 
  Umbonate

See also

• Lamella
• Stipe

References

• Arora, D: "Mushrooms Demystified", Ten Speed Press, 1986.