Penicillia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of fungi known for producing penicillin, which is a crucial antibiotic used to fight bacterial infections
2. A type of mold found in various environments, notable for its role in the development of important pharmaceuticals
3. Fungi belonging to the family Penicillaceae, recognized for their significance in medicine and food spoilage processes

Etymology: Penicillia is simply the plural of penicillium, the genus name given to the mould genus that gives the family Penicillaceae its name. The genus name was coined in Latin-style form from the Latin "penicillus," meaning a painter's brush, a reference to the brush-like shape of the fungi's spore-bearing structures. Under the microscope, the branching chains of conidiophores do look like tiny paintbrushes, which is why the name stuck. Because a single species, Penicillium notatum, was later found to produce penicillin, the name became widely known far beyond mycology. Many people encounter the genus through this link to medicine, and through its common role in spoiling bread, fruit and cheese. The plural form, penicillia, is the one used when referring to more than one such fungus or to several members of the group as a whole.

Synonyms: penicillin