Basidium

basidium a paddle-shaped, spore-bearing organ of a class of fungi; typically bears four spores Source: Noland, George B. 1983. General Biology, 11th Edition. St. Louis, MO. C. V. Mosby ... Full article ...

basidium pl. basidia A reproductive appendage that produces sexual spores on the gills of mushrooms. The fungal division Basidiomycota is named for this structure. Batesian mimicry ...

basidium Club-shaped reproductive cell in basidiomycetes undergoes meiosis to produce four haploid cells called basidiospores. basihyo- bas = foundation, step; G. hyo = Y-shaped. A hyoid bone.

In fungi and fungus-like organisms, spores are often classified by the structure in which meiosis and spore production takes place, such as a telium, ascus, basidium, or oogonium, which produce teliospore, ascospores, basidiospores, and oospores, ...

basidiomycetes The club fungi, a major group of fungi that all produce a structure (basidium) on which basidiospores are produced. Includes mushrooms and toadstools. PICTURE ...

Mushrooms are masses of interwoven hyphae growing up from the main mass of the mycelium growing underground. The basidia develop on the undersides and release their spores (four from each basidium) into the air.

See also: Spore, Organ, Fungi, Asexual, Plant