The direction of the lamellar trama refers to the overall direction of hyphae within the lamellar trama, whether at right angles (descending) or parallel (radiate) to the edge of the lamella. Assess this feature from the same section used to ascertain Lamellar trama (pattern), which is a cross section of a lamella running from the edge to the top, at right angles to the edge. This feature is best observed on young material, since in older fruit-bodies a descending arrangement can become irregular, although it is usually retained at the edge of the lamella.

Choose this state if: the hyphae of the lamellar trama descend from the pileus trama to the edge of the lamellae, more or less at right angles to the edge of the lamella. A cross section of the lamellar trama at right angles to the lamellae edge will show hyphae in various arrangements (including irregularly arranged), but never with many hyphae cut in cross section.

Where the lamellar trama is descending, the lamella often splits readily at right angles to the edge.