Groups of Fungi

        Most of the larger fungi (kingdom Fungi) encountered in nature are members of the phylum Basidiomycota, commonly referred to as basidiomycetes. Among these are agarics (or gilled fungi), bird's nest fungi, boletes, chanterelles, coral fungi, crust fungi, earthballs, earthstars, jelly fungi, polypores, puffballs, stinkhorns and tooth fungi. However, there are some members of the phylum Ascomycota, commonly referred to as ascomycetes, that produce conspicuous fruiting bodies. The most prominent examples are the club fungi, cup fungi, flask fungi, morels and saddle fungi. The slime molds, members of the phylum Myxomycota (or the phylum Mycetozoa in the kingdom Protozoa in more recent treatments), are not true fungi but some have fruiting bodies that resemble those of fungi (albeit being much smaller) and are often found in the same types of situations.