Discomycetes

A class of the *Ascomycotina containing those ascomycetes that produce an *apothecium (the exception being the Tuberales, where the hymenium is enclosed). It contains over 3000 species in some 425 genera, which are distributed among the orders *Phacidiales , *Helotiales , Ostropales, *Pezizales , and *Tuberales. The majority of fungi that form lichens are Discomycetes (see Lecanorales).