Basidiomycete Definition

Any of various members of a large group of fungi producing spores on basidia. The group includes puffballs, shelf fungi, rusts, smuts, and many species of mushrooms.

Any of a subdivision (Basidiomycotina) of fungi, including the mushrooms, rusts, smuts, and puffballs, that produce spores on basidia; club fungus.

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.