Basidiospores

Basidiospores are the sexual spores formed by members of the Basidiomycota. Basidiospores are produced by basidia, with four basidiospores normally formed by each basidium. They are single celled, but vary in size and color. Basidiospores of mushroom and bracket fungi often have an asymmetric shape due to the presence of a hilar appendage (apiculus) where each spore was attached to a sterigma on the basidium. See Basidiomycota for additional details. Puffball and earthball basidiospores lack an asymmetric shape.