Definition of "sphaerocyst"
sphaerocyst
noun
plural sphaerocysts
(mycology) A rounded cell, found in clusters within the trama of some mushrooms.
Quotations
Russulaceae is distinguished from other families of mushroom-like fungi with gills by the presence of cells (swollen hyphae called sphaerocysts) and filaments which constitute the fruit bodies and can be observed under the microscope in the gill trama and other parts. All other families lack sphaerocysts.
1996, Mark Brundrett, Working with Mycorrhizas in Forestry and Agriculture, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, page 121
A trama bearing many of these sphaerocysts is called a “heteromerous” (meaning “made of multiple parts”) trama. The opposite expression for an ordinary trama without sphaerocysts is “homoiomerous trama.”
2010, R. K. Sharma, D, K. Agarwal, 12: Morphotaxonomic Studies of Poisonous Mushrooms, K. G. Mukerji, C. Manoharachary (editors), Taxonomy and Ecology of Indian Fungi, page 192