Bot. Pl. -ia. [mod.L., repr. Gr. type *κυστίδιον, dim. of κύστις bladder: in mod.F. cystidion: sometimes anglicized Cystide.]
1. Link’s name for a 1-celled, indehiscent, superior, membranous, apocarpous fruit; = utriculus.
2. One of the projecting cells originating among the basidia of hymenomycetous fungi, and supposed to be sterile basidia.
1858. Carpenter, Veg. Phys., § 778. These … cystidia have been supposed to have the nature of antheridia; but this is uncertain.
1881. Gard. Chron., No. 403. 369/2. Cystidia are distinctly hyaline and glutinous bodies.
