In
mycology, a
partial veil (also called an
inner veil, to differentiate it from the "outer" veil, or
velum) is a temporary structure of tissue found on the fruiting bodies of some
basidiomycete fungi, typically
agarics. Its role is to isolate and protect the developing
spore-producing surface, represented by
gills or tubes, found on the lower surface of the
cap. A partial veil, in contrast to a
universal veil, extends from the
stem surface to the
cap edge. The partial veil later disintegrates, once the fruiting body has matured and the spores are ready for dispersal. It might then give rise to a
stem ring, or fragments attached to the stem or cap edge. In some mushrooms, both a partial veil and a universal veil may be present.