Light Micrograph (LM) showing Mycorrhiza; fungal roots with associated mycelium. This is a type of Basidiomycete, which is characterized by basidia, club-shaped structures borne on gills, pores or other fertile surfaces. Each basidium typically buds off four basidiospores after a sexual process and meiosis. The spores germinate to produce a mycelium (often underground, in leaf litter, inside trees, etc.) from which arise the fruit bodies (mushrooms, toadstools, etc).