Ascomycetes

Ascomycetes, an important group of the higher fungi, characterised by producing spores, generally eight together, in club-shaped cells known as asci. These asci are borne either in open cup-like apothecia or in nearly-closed receptacles termed perithecia, the presence of these structures distinguishing the subdivisions Discomycetes and Pyrenomycetes respectively. Peziza is a type of the former; ergot ( Claviceps) of the latter. Some of the lichens belong to each subdivision.