sclerotia

(noun) form genus of sterile imperfect fungi; many form sclerotia; some cause sclerotium disease in plants. Synonyms: Sclerotium, genus Sclerotium.

(noun) compact usually dark-colored mass of hardened mycelium constituting a vegetative food-storage body in various true fungi; detaches when mature and can give rise to new growth. Synonyms: sclerotium.