Basidiomycota By: Ethan Siem Hr.1 Accel. Bio

What are They? The Basidiomycota contains about 30,000 species, which is 37% of the species of true Fungi. The most familiar Basidiomycota are those that produce mushrooms.. Basidiomycota also includes yeasts.

What are They Cont. Basidiomycota are found in virtually all ecosystems, including freshwater and marine habitats.

What do They Do? Basidiomycota have a huge impact on humans and the function of the ecosystem. Many Basidiomycota obtain nutrition by decaying dead organic matter, including wood and leaf litter. Basidiomycota play a major role in the Carbon Cycle.

What they do cont. Unfortunately Basidiomycota frequently attack the wood in buildings and other structures like it. Basidiomycota usually have a negative effect on the human economy.

Kinds of… There are many different kinds of basidiomycota. Basidiomycota is the largest of the 5 phyla of fungi.

Kinds of…cont. Basidiomycota include… –Gill fungi –Pore fungi –Stinkhorns –Coral fungi –Bird’s nest fungi –Jelly fungi –Rusts –Smuts –Stem rot –Puffballs

Gill Fungi Gill fungi have gills under their caps They are thin vertical items beneath a mushroom cap Spores are produced on these gills Most are deadly poisonous They also are some of the best fungi to eat Found on dead twigs and material laying on the forest floor

Pore Fungi Spores also fall from these pores just like from the gill mushrooms Some develop “flesh” bruises These are good to eat Many pore fungi are too tough to even think of eating

Stinkhorns They are mostly an empty shell filled with air. They are sticky and moist. Smell unbelievably bad! Like dog feces on a warm summer day. The greenish brown stuff is composed of basidia and basidiospores. Bees do the same thing with flowers that Flies do with Stinkhorns. They are not poisonous!

Coral Fungi They branch in clusters like coral reefs do. Found in the woods on decaying logs Some are brightly colored. Mostly fleshy and edible.