1. a powdery mass of spores and sterile filaments found in certain lichens
Usage: botanical

Examples

• The mazaedium appeared as a dusty coating on the lichen’s surface.
• Botanists examined the mazaedium under a microscope to identify the species.
• The dark mazaedium contrasted sharply with the pale thallus of the lichen.
• Spores were released when the mazaedium was disturbed by wind.
• The presence of a mazaedium is a key identifying feature of this lichen genus.