Cyttaria

noun

Cyt·​tar·​ia
sə̇ˈta(a)rēə
: a genus of ascomycetous fungi typifying the family Cyttariaceae and comprising the beech fungi that are parasitic on certain evergreen beeches of the southern hemisphere and that have apothecia sunken in the surface of stalked often brightly colored subspherical stromata which are gelatinous at maturity and used as food in southern South America

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek kyttaros cell of a honeycomb + New Latin -ia; from the pitted appearance of the fungi

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Cite this Entry

“Cyttaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cyttaria. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

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