autobasidium
|au-to-ba-si-di-um|
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/ˌɔːtoʊbəˈsɪdiəm/
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/ˌɔːtəʊbəˈsɪdɪəm/
self-originating basidium(s)
Etymology
'autobasidium' originates from New Latin, formed from Greek elements: 'autos' meaning 'self' and 'basidion' (diminutive of 'basis') meaning 'little base' or 'pedestal'.
'autobasidium' was coined in modern mycological/New Latin usage by combining Greek roots ('autos' + 'basidion'); it entered technical biological vocabulary directly as a compound rather than evolving from an earlier English form.
Initially coined to denote a 'self-originating basidium' in specialized mycological descriptions; its technical meaning has remained stable within mycology as describing basidia that form directly from somatic cells.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(mycology) A basidium that develops directly from a single hyphal cell or somatic cell (i.e., a 'self-formed' basidium), rather than by conjugation or from a specialized multicellular structure; observed in certain fungi.
The specimen produced numerous autobasidia on the surface of the decaying wood.
Last updated: 2025/11/23 19:50