hypha

hy·pha  (hf)

n. pl. hy·phae (-f)

Any of the threadlike filaments forming the mycelium of a fungus.

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[New Latin, from Greek huph, web; see webh- in Indo-European roots.]

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hyphal adj.

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hypha  (hf)

Plural hyphae (hf)

One of the long slender tubes that develop from germinated spores and form the structural parts of the body of a fungus. In many species of fungi, hyphae are divided into sections by cross walls called septa. Each section contains at least one haploid nucleus, and the septa usually have perforations that allow cytoplasm to flow through the hypha. A large mass of hyphae is known as a mycelium, which is the growing form of most fungi. From time to time, hyphae develop reproductive structures that are partitioned from the hypha by holeless septa. In many species, these structures are microscopic; in others, they are visible and large. Mushrooms and shelf fungi are visible reproductive structures of fungi.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

hypha - any of the threadlike filaments forming the mycelium of a fungus conidiophore - a specialized fungal hypha that produces conidia mycelium - the vegetative part of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching threadlike hyphae rhizomorph - a dense mass of hyphae forming a root-like structure characteristic of many fungi fibril, filament, strand - a very slender natural or synthetic fiber