The pileipellis is the uppermost layer of hyphae in the pileus of a fungal fruiting body. It is more or less synonymous with the cuticle, however, the cutilce generally describes this layer as a macroscopic feature, while pileipellis refers to this structure as a microscopic layer. Pileipellis type is an important character in the identification of fungi. Pileipellis types include the cutis, trichoderm, epithellium, and hymenoderm types.

Pileipellis types

Cutis

A cutis is a type of pileipellis characterized by hyphae that are repent, that is, that run parallel to the pileus surface.

Trichoderm

Epithelium

Hymenoderm

External link

• IMA Mycological Glossary: Pileipellis

Fungal morphology and anatomy