Ascomycota, also known as sac fungi, is a diverse and interesting Phylum within the field of mycology. With over 64,000 species identified, Ascomycota makes up a significant portion of the fungal kingdom and plays crucial roles in various ecosystems. One of the defining characteristics of Ascomycota is the presence of specialized reproductive structures, known as asci, which give the phylum its name. These asci can contain anywhere from a few to millions of spores, which are released into the environment to begin the life cycle of the fungus.