Bot. [mod.L. = F. lirelle, a diminutive f. L. līra furrow.] The narrow ‘shield’ or apothecium, with a furrow along the middle, found in some lichens.
1839. Lindley, Introd. Bot. (ed. 3), 271. Lirella is a linear shield, such as is found in Opegrapha, with a channel along its middle.
1861. Bentley, Man. Bot., 383. The more usual forms [of apothecia] are round and linear; in the latter case they are commonly termed lirellæ.
Hence Lirellate, Lirelline, Lirelliform (erron. lirellæform), Lirellous adjs., shaped like a lirella.
1855. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Lirelliformis,… lirelliform. Lirellosus,… lirellous.
1871. W. A. Leighton, Lichen-flora, 162. Apothecia … lirelliform. Ibid., 388. Apothecia lirellæform.
1889. Syd. Soc. Lex., Lirellate.
1900. Jackson, Gloss. Bot. Terms, Lirelline.
