Bot. Pl. -ata. [mod.L., a. Gr. στήριγμα prop, support, f. στηρίζειν to set fast, support.] a. A ridge extending down a stem below the point of attachment of a decurrent leaf. b. In fungi, a stalk or filament bearing a spore; often a branch or outgrowth of a basidium.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1098/2. Sterigmata, the elevated lines or plates upon stems produced by the bases of decurrent leaves.
1874. Cooke, Fungi, 21. Each spore is borne upon a slender stalk or sterigma.
1879. Encycl. Brit., IX. 832/1. From the hymenium rise the basidia, at the apex of which are usually four sterigmata bearing the spores.
Hence Sterigmatic a., pertaining to or of the nature of a sterigma.
1882. Encycl. Brit., XIV. 555/1. The spermatia … at first appear as minute protrusions on the apices of the sterigmatic cells.
