The Sac Fungi

diagram showing cross section of a cup fungus, showing asci and ascosporesSac fungi get their names from the fact that they produce their spores, called ascospores, in special pods or sac-like structures called asci (singular ascus). Technically this group of fungi is known as the Ascomycetes or Ascomycota. The drawing at the right shows a cross-section of a cup fungus, a kind of sac fungus, and the microsopic view shows how asci cover the inside of the cup. The orange color is just to serve as a background.

You might want to compare this diagram showing asci producing ascospores with the diagram showing basidia producing basidiospores on the club fungus page, and the gametangia producing zygospores on the conjugations fungus page.