basidiomycete

ba·sid·i·o·my·cete   (bə-sĭd'ē-ō-mī'sēt', -mī-sēt')    n.  Any of various members of a large group of fungi bearing sexually produced spores on a basidium. The group includes puffballs, shelf fungi, rusts, smuts, and mushrooms. [basidi(um) + -mycete.] ba·sid'i·o·my·ce'tous (-mī-sē'təs) adj.

Main Entry: ba·sid·io·my·cete
Pronunciation: b&-"sid-E-O-'mI-"sEt, -"mI-'sEt
Function: noun
: any of a group of higher fungithat have septate hyphae and spores borne on a basidium produced directly from the mycelium or as an outgrowth of a spore, that include rusts, smuts, and numerous edible forms (as many mushrooms), andthat are variously considered to comprise a class (Basidiomycetes), a subdivision (Basidiomycotina), or a division (Basidiomycota) —ba·sid·io·my·ce·tous /-mI-'sEt-&s/ adjective

basidiomycete   (bə-sĭd'ē-ō-mī'sēt')  Pronunciation Key  Any of various fungi belonging to the phylum Basidomycota, bearing sexually produced spores on a basidium. All hyphae of basidiomycetes are divided into segments by septa and go through three stages of development. In the final stage, each segment has two nuclei, and the hyphae grow to produce basidia and disperse basidiospores. The basidiomycetes are the most familiar forms of fungi and include mushrooms, puffballs, shelf fungi, rusts, and smuts.