Editing Basidiocarp

{{Short description|Fungal structure}}
{{inline|date=January 2016}}
[[File:Basidium schematic.svg|thumb|upright=1.6|Schematic representations of a typical basidiocarp (left to right): a [[fruiting body]], [[hymenium]] and [[basidia]]]]

In [[fungi]], a '''basidiocarp''', '''basidiome''', or '''basidioma''' ({{plural form|'''basidiomata'''}}) is the [[sporocarp (fungi)|sporocarp]] of a [[basidiomycete]], the [[multicellular]] structure on which the [[spore]]-producing [[hymenium]] is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the [[hymenomycete]]s; [[Urediniomycetes|rusts]] and [[Ustilaginomycetes|smuts]] do not produce such structures. As with other sporocarps, epigeous (above-ground) basidiocarps that are visible to the naked eye (especially those with a more or less [[agaricoid]] morphology) are commonly referred to as [[mushroom]]s, while hypogeous (underground) basidiocarps are usually called [[false truffle]]s.

==Structure==
All basidiocarps serve as the structure on which the hymenium is produced. [[Basidia]] are found on the surface of the hymenium, and the basidia ultimately produce spores. In its simplest form, a basidiocarp consists of an undifferentiated fruiting structure with a hymenium on the surface; such a structure is characteristic of many simple [[jelly fungi|jelly]] and [[club fungi]]. In more complex basidiocarps, there is differentiation into a [[Stipe (mycology)|stipe]], a [[Pileus (mycology)|pileus]], and/or various types of [[hymenophore]]s.

==Types==
[[File:Ramaria rugosa var cinerea.jpg|thumb|Basidiocarps of ''Ramaria rugosa'', a [[coral fungus]]]]
[[File:Cantharellus tubiformis 050920w.jpg|thumb|Basidiocarps of ''[[Craterellus tubaeformis]]'', a cantharelloid fungus]]
[[File:Amanita muscaria 3 vliegenzwammen op rij.jpg|thumb|Basidiocarps of ''[[Amanita muscaria]]'', an [[agaric]]]]

Basidiocarps are classified into various types of growth forms based on the degree of differentiation into a stipe, pileus, and hymenophore, as well as the type of hymenophore, if present.

Growth forms include:

*[[Jelly fungus]] – fruiting body is jelly-like.
*[[Club fungus]] and [[coral fungus]] – erect fruiting body without a distinct stalk and cap, either unbranched (club fungus) or profusely branched (coral fungus).
*[[Polypore]] – underside of the fruiting body usually consists of tubes; otherwise very variable, usually wood-inhabiting
*tooth fungus or [[hydnoid fungus]] – underside of the fruiting body composed of spines or teeth
*[[Corticioid fungus]] – the underside of the fruiting body is usually smooth or with spines (vs. hydnoid fungi) but not poroid nor gilled; typically effused without caps
*Cantharelloid fungus – fruiting body with shallow fold-like gills running over most of the lower surface of the fruiting body and not much differentiation between the stalk and cap.
*[[Gasteromycete]] or "gastroid fungus" – fruiting body has a ball-like shape and in which the hymenophore has become entirely enclosed on the inside of the fruiting body.
*[[False truffle]] – like a gasteromycete, however, but with a [[hypogeous]] (underground) fruiting body.
*[[Secotioid|Secotioid fungus]] – like a gasteromycete, but with a stalk. Thought to be an evolutionarily intermediate stage between a gasteromycete and an agaric. 
*[[Agaric]] or gill fungi – fruiting body with caps, gills, and (usually) a stalk.
*[[Bolete]] – fleshy fruiting body with a cap, a stalk, and tubes on the underside. 

Basic divisions of [[Agaricomycotina]] were formerly based entirely upon the growth form of the mushroom. [[Molecular phylogenetic]] investigation (as well as supporting evidence from [[wikt:micromorphology|micromorphology]] and [[chemotaxonomy]]) has since demonstrated that similar types of basidiomycete growth form are often examples of [[convergent evolution]] and do not always reflect a close relationship between different groups of fungi. For example, agarics have arisen independently in the [[Agaricales]], the [[Boletales]], the [[Russulales]], and other groups, while [[secotioid]] fungi and false truffles have arisen independently many times just within the Agaricales.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MykoWeb: Evolution & Morphology in the Homobasidiomycetes|url=http://www.mykoweb.com/articles/Homobasidiomycete_clades.html|access-date=2020-07-12|website=www.mykoweb.com}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Ascocarp]]
*[[Conidium]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mykoweb.com/articles/Homobasidiomycete_chart.html Evolution & Morphology in the Homobasidiomycetes: The Clade/Morphology Chart] by Gary Lincoff & Michael Wood, ''MykoWeb'', November 27, 2005.
*[http://www.mykoweb.com/articles/mycomorphology_1.html "Mycomorphology Part 1: Why Do Mushrooms Look Like Mushrooms?"] by Peter Werner, ''[[Mycological Society of San Francisco|Mycena News]]'', December 2002. (Archived at ''MycoWeb'')
*[http://www.mykoweb.com/articles/mycomorphology_2.html "Mycomorphology Part 2: Basidiocarp Keeps its Balance"] by Peter Werner, ''Mycena News'', March 2003. (Archived at ''MycoWeb'')

[[Category:Fungal morphology and anatomy]]