‖ basidium
(bəˈsɪdɪəm)
[mod.L., f. Gr. βάσις, base + -ιδιον dim. ending.]
Name given to the cells of the fructification in some fungi, which form the ‘gills,’ and bear the spores.
| 1858 Carpenter Veg. Phys. §778 The spores are arranged on this hymenium in clusters of four, each group being attached to the points of a small body, rounded below, which is called the basidium. 1861 H. Macmillan Footn. Page Nat. 214 Each of the gills..is found to consist of a number of elongated cells called basidia. |