holobasidiate

Holobasidiate is a term used in mycology to describe a type of basidiomycete fungus that produces basidia (spore-bearing cells) directly on the surface of the fruit body, rather than within a hymenium (a layer of tissue). This characteristic distinguishes holobasidiate fungi from sectioned basidiomycetes, which produce basidia within a hymenium. Holobasidiate fungi are often found in the order Agaricales, which includes many common mushrooms like the common button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria). The term "holobasidiate" is derived from the Greek words "holos" meaning "whole" and "basidium" referring to the spore-bearing cell. This classification is important in mycological studies as it helps to understand the evolutionary relationships and life cycles of different fungal species.