A hypha (plural hyphae) is a long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus, and also of unrelated Actinobacteria.[1] In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium; yeasts are unicellular fungi that do not grow as hyphae.






As a hypha extends, septa may be formed behind the growing tip to partition each hypha into individual cells. Hyphae can branch through bifurcation of a growing tip, or by the emergence of a new tip from an established hypha.



Classification based on cell division

  • Septate (with septa)
    • Yeast can form pseudohyphae.[5] They are the result of a sort of incomplete budding where the cells remain attached after division.

Classification based on cell wall and overall form






Classification based on refractive appearance



  1. Madigan M; Martinko J (editors). (2005). (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. . 
  3. . http://www.mycology.adelaide.edu.au/Mycoses/Opportunistic/Aspergillosis/. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
  4. . http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/INFEHTML/INFEC022.html. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
  5. . http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mycology/mycology-3.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
  6. . Illinois Mycological Association. Archived from on 2006-10-14. http://web.archive.org/web/20061014024902/http://www.mushroomthejournal.com/greatlakesdata/Terms/trimi142.html. Retrieved 2007-02-11. 
  7. Corner EJH (1932). . Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 17: 51–81. . 
  8. Cunningham GH (1954-55). . Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 82: 893–6. http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_82/rsnz_82_04_010220.html. 
  9. Corner EJH (1966). . Ann. Bot. Mem. 2: 1–255. 