Noun
The spore-bearing surface of certain fungi, as that on the gills of a mushroom.
Source: Webster's dictionarySimilar structures called cystidia often occur within the hymenium of the Basidiomycota. Source: Internet
Schematic of a typical basidiocarp, the dipoid reproductive structure of a basidiomycete, showing fruiting body, hymenium and basidia. Source: Internet
Microscopic features Morchella elata asci viewed with phase contrast microscopy A hymenium is a layer of microscopic spore-bearing cells that covers the surface of gills. Source: Internet