Outer diferentiated, woolly-floccose soft or leathery egg shell-like layer enveloping the primordial basidiocarp and tissues differentiating from this layer and remaining in the shape of scales (428.jpg), flakes (424B.jpg) , (722.jpg) or plaques on the cap (427.jpg) and/or in the shape of a volva (434.jpg), (600B.jpg) around the base of the stem.

Alternative form for velum universale : universal veil.