Trama (mycology)

In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium.

In essence the trama is the tissue we call the "flesh" of mushrooms and similar fungi.^[1]

Literally "trama" is the Latin word for the "weft" or "woof" yarns in the weaving of cloth^[2]. This probably is related to the fact that in the basidiocarp trama is "filler" tissue and that analogously the woof yarn in weaving is sometimes called "fill". What is more, the trama tends to be soft tissue, and in weaving, the woof yarn is not tightly stretched; it therefore need not as a rule be as strong as the warp yarn.

References

1. ^ Largent D, Johnson D, Watling R. 1977. How to Identify Mushrooms to Genus III: Microscopic Features. Arcata, CA: Mad River Press. ISBN 0-916-422-09-7. pp. 60–70.
2. ^ Jaeger, Edmund Carroll (1959). A source-book of biological names and terms. Springfield, Ill: Thomas. ISBN 0-398-06179-3.