Phylum Ascomycota

The Ascomycota, which form the largest phylum within the kingdom Fungi, consists of 23 classes, 160 orders, 686 families, 9,606 genera, and more than 98,000 described species (some references estimate more than 155,000 species; see also the Catalogue of Life). Sexually reproducing species of Ascomycota form ascospores in a microscopic spore sac, called an ascus. Morels, cup fungi, needle cast fungi, canker fungi, moulds, and powdery mildews are some of the many types of fungi in the Ascomycota. Most forest pathogenic and wood decay species important in Canada fall into six classes within the Ascomycota: Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycetes, Sordariomycetes, and Taphrinomycetes.