Gasteromycetes

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Gasteromycetes (subdivision Basidiomycotina) A class of fungi that form epigean or hypogean basidiocarps which undergo angiocarpic (see ANGIOCARPY) development; the basidia are not septate and basidiospores are not forcibly discharged from the basidia. Most members are saprotrophic; some form mycorrhizal associations.