Basidiomycetes

Fungi, producing the spores formed by sexual reproduction in specifically formed structures (basidiums).

Some of the 16 000 known species of the basidiomycetes are plant pathogens like Ustilago maydis or Puccinia graminis (smut diseases of cereals). Others are simple saprophytes, like touchwoods (Fomes fomentarius) or the common mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), or mycorrhizal fungi (for example the edible boletus Boletus edulis or the toxic death cup Amanita phalloides).