Basidiomycetes

A group of fungi commonly referred to as mushrooms. Four spores are attached to a basidium at a single attachment point. The specific mushroom species are difficult to identify on the culture plate.

Allergen

Many mushroom spores are reported to be allergenic. (7)

Location

Found outside on rotting wood, in the grass shortly after rainfall and in the soil adding the nutritional uptake. Outdoor air samples taken within days of a recent rainfall will often have high counts of these spores on a spore trace sample. The growth of the organism on culture plates is often not helpful in determining the genera of the organism. (30)