3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Basidiomycetes  \Ba*sid`i*o*my*ce"tes\,  n.  pl  [NL.,  fr  NL  &  E. 
  basidium  +  Gr  ?,  ?,  fungus.]  (Bot.) 
  A  large  subdivision  of  fungi  co["o]rdinate  with  the 
  {Ascomycetes},  characterized  by  having  the  spores  borne  on  a 
  basidium.  It  embraces  those  fungi  best  known  to  the  public, 
  such  as  mushrooms,  toadstools,  etc 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Fungi  \Fun"gi\,  n.  pl  (Bot.) 
  A  group  of  thallophytic  plants  of  low  organization,  destitute 
  of  chlorophyll,  in  which  reproduction  is  mainly  accomplished 
  by  means  of  asexual  spores,  which  are  produced  in  a  great 
  variety  of  ways,  though  sexual  reproduction  is  known  to  occur 
  in  certain  {Phycomycetes},  or  so-called  algal  fungi. 
 
  Note:  The  Fungi  appear  to  have  originated  by  degeneration 
  from  various  alg[ae],  losing  their  chlorophyll  on 
  assuming  a  parasitic  or  saprophytic  life.  By  some  they 
  are  divided  into  the  subclasses  {Phycomycetes},  the 
  lower  or  algal  fungi;  the  {Mesomycetes},  or 
  intermediate  fungi;  and  the  {Mycomycetes},  or  the 
  higher  fungi;  by  others  into  the  {Phycomycetes};  the 
  {Ascomycetes},  or  sac-spore  fungi;  and  the 
  {Basidiomycetes},  or  basidial-spore  fungi. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Basidiomycetes 
  n  :  large  class  of  higher  fungi  coextensive  with  subdivision 
  Basidiomycota  [syn:  {Basidiomycetes},  {class 
  Basidiomycetes}] 

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