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Two Groups - classifying fungi into ascomycetes and basidiomycetes:

Jelly fungi & Wood-ears

Jelly fungi

basidia and hyphae embedded within a gelatinous matrix Tremella (right)

The irregularly shaped jelly fungi (such as the species of Tremella) have the basidia in the convoluted surfaces of the fruiting bodies. The basidia of the jelly fungi are septate along their long axes and have long, often weakly sinuous sterigmata. The basidia are within the gelatinous fruiting body, with only the ends of the sterigmata (and the spores) protruding into the air. The basidia and hyphae that make up the fruiting bodies are often embedded within a gelatinous matrix that can make the hyphae hard to see. In this diagram the dull yellowish colour represents the gelatinous matrix and the thick, grey, wavy lines are the hyphae of the fruiting body. As before, the basidia and spores are coloured green and brown respectively.

Wood-ears

basidia in smooth, semi-glossy undersurface

Auricularia sp.

The fresh fruiting bodies of species in the genus Auricularia are gelatinous and somewhat ear-shaped (hence the common name of Wood Ears, for they grow on wood). The basidia are elongated, tapering at their ends and septate across their width. As in the jelly fungi, the basidia of Auricularia are within the fruiting bodies with just the ends of the sterigmata (and the spores) beyond the surface. The basidia are in the smooth, semi-glossy undersurface - not the dull, roughened to bristly upper surface. This diagram shows the arrangement in Auricularia, using the same colour code as in the preceding jelly fungus diagram.