Noun
A special oblong or pyriform cell, with slender branches, which bears the spores in that division of fungi called Basidiomycetes, of which the common mushroom is an example.
Source: Webster's dictionaryA promycelium is formed that consists of a short hypha (equated to a basidium). Source: Internet
Following meiosis, mitotic divisions can occur in the basidium. Source: Internet
Occasionally, basidiospores are not formed and parts of the "basidia" act as the dispersal agents, e.g. the peculiar mycoparasitic jelly fungus, Tetragoniomyces or the entire "basidium" acts as a "spore", e.g. in some false puffballs ( Scleroderma ). Source: Internet
The spores of puffballs are statismospores rather than ballistospores, meaning they are not actively shot off the basidium. Source: Internet
Often such species form only two spores per basidium, but that too varies. Source: Internet
The diploid basidium begins the cycle again. Source: Internet