— amphithecial /am'feuh thee"sheuhl, -shee euhl, -see euhl/ , adj.
/am'feuh thee"shee euhm/ , n. , pl. amphithecia /-shee euh/ .
1. Bot. the layer or one of the layers of cells in the capsule of a moss surrounding the spores.
2. Mycol. (in certain lichens) a layer of cells that surrounds the fungal apothecium.
[ amphi- AMPHI- + thekíon ( thék ( e ) case, cover + -ion dim. suffix) ]