Terms discussed: epigeous
A hypogeous fungus is one that fruits underground. Actually, the term is used for truffles that also fruit in the layer of leaves and decaying debris on the forest floor, or at the interface between the ground and the debris. Other (stalked) fungi sometimes also fruit inside the layer of leaves on the forest floor (especially if its really thick), but we don't call them hypogeous because (rightly or wrongly) we give them credit for "trying" to get above the leaf litter, or a "normal" fruiting habit that involves reaching the open air. Who knows if this is true? Maybe chanterelles (for instance) evolved in a situation where they never made it out above the leaf litter, and the present situation where they usually end up fruiting in the open is a historical accident...
The antonym to hypogeous, "epigeous", is rarely used, as fruiting above ground is just considered normal.
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