-ēs(h)ēəm noun
( plural apothe·cia -s(h)ēə)
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin apotheca storehouse + New Latin -ium
: a spore-bearing structure in many lichens and ascomycetous fungi consisting of a disklike, saucer-shaped, or cuplike body bearing asci in an extended layer (the hymenium) on the exposed flat or concave surface