Ascocarp
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
An ascocarp is the fruiting body of some ascomycete fungi, containing millions of asci, each of which contains typically eight ascospores. Ascocarps are most commonly bowl-shaped, but may take on a number of other designs.
There are three described types of ascocarps based upon shape: cleistothecium (spherical), apothecium (cup-shaped), and perithecium (slightly open at one end, like a flask or jug). Cleistothecia and perithecia are microscopic — about the size of flecks of ground pepper. Apothecia can be relatively large and fleshy. The morel, an edible mushroom favored by gourmets, is a mass of apothecia fused together in a single large structure or cap.
| This fungi related article is a stub. You can help Biocrawler by expanding it (http://www.biocrawler.com/w/index.php?title=Ascocarp&action=edit). |
