The Ascomycota phylum, often referred to as the sac fungi, is one of the largest groups within the fungi kingdom. Imagine it as a big family reunion where everyone shares a common feature: they all carry their spores, the fungi’s version of seeds, in special sac-like structures called asci.
These asci can be thought of as tiny pea pods, each containing eight spores ready to be released into the world. This unique method of carrying and releasing spores is what unites the diverse members of the Ascomycota phylum, which includes everything from the yeast used to make bread rise, to the molds that give blue cheese its distinctive flavor, and yes, even our intriguing Cordyceps.