hypha

A branching tubular cell characteristic of the filamentous fungi (molds). In most species the hyphae are divided by cross-walls (septa) into multicellular hyphae; intercommunicating hyphae constitute a mycelium, the visible colony on natural substrates or artificial laboratory media. The terms h. and mycelium often are used interchangeably. [G. hyphe, a web]

- racquet h. a vegetative h. with distal ends of successive cells inflated, resembling a string of elongated snowshoes or tennis racquets; seen in many mycelial fungi, e.g., many dermatophyte species in culture.

- spiral hyphae hyphae that end in a flat or helical coil, as in laboratory colonies of Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

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hy·pha 'hī-fə n, pl hy·phae -(.)fē one of the threads that make up the mycelium of a fungus, increase by apical growth, and are coenocytic or transversely septate

hy·phal -fəl adj

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hy·pha (hiґfə) pl. hyґphae [L., from Gr. hyphe web] 1. one of the filaments or threads composing the mycelium of a fungus. 2. branching filamentous outgrowths produced by certain bacteria (e.g., Actinomyces, Hyphomicrobium), sometimes forming a mycelium.