Capillitium

/kəˌpɪˈlɪʃəm/ noun

Definition

A system of hair-like or thread-like structures found in certain fungi and organisms, often used for reproduction or spore dispersal.

Etymology

Latin term combining capillus (hair) with the diminutive or descriptive suffix -itium. First used systematically in mycological literature in the 18th century to describe fungal anatomy.

Kelly Says

In puffball fungi and slime molds, the capillitium acts like an internal skeleton made entirely of threads—when you squeeze a puffball, these threads help push millions of spores out like a biological powder bomb!

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