A backlit mushroom, revealing the gills

A gill, or lamella, is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of a mushroom, most often but not always an agaric. As fungi are studied in more detail, several other types of fungi exhibit gills while not members of the Agaricales. It is now clear that this is a case of convergent evolution (i.e. gill-like structures evolved separately) rather than being an anatomic feature that evolved only once. The apparent reason that various basidiomycetes have evolved gills is that it is the most effective means of increasing the ratio of surface area to mass, which increases the potential for spore production and dispersal.

Other groups of fungi to bear gills include:

• The genera Russula and Lactarius of the Russulales.
• Several genera in the Boletales, including Gomphidius and Chroogomphus as well as Tapinella atrotomentosa (which has been traditionally named Paxillus atrotomentosus) and other species in that genus, the False chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca).
• Such polypore-like fungi such as Daedalea quercina, Daedaleopsis confragosa, Lenzites betulina and Gloeophyllum sepiarium.

[edit] Classification

Morphologically, gills are classified according to their attachment to the stem:

Adnate	Adnexed	Decurrent	Emarginate
Free	Seceding	Sinuate	Subdecurrent

[edit] External links

• IMA Mycological Glossary: Gill

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