hymenium

In the higher fungi, a fertile layer consisting of asci or basidia. In the ascomycetes the hymenium lines the ascocarp while in basidiomycetes it lines the basidiocarp. The hymenium may be exposed at maturity, as in the Discomycetes and the Hymenomycetes, or enclosed, as in the Plectomycetes, Pyrenomycetes, and Gasteromycetes.