Inoperculate Discomycetes

Order: leotiales

The apothecial ascomata are superficially similar to those of the Pezizales, but the asci are inoperculate, and usually have amyloid apical rings. Several of the families in this order are common and well-known.

Family Sclerotiniaceae. 

Sclerotinia fructicola
As the name implies, these fungi often form sclerotia, which may be solid masses of fungal tissue, fungal hyphae riddling a mummified host such as a peach.  Having over wintered in this guise, they germinate in spring and use the stored energy to produce stalked apothecial ascomata.  Ascospores (primary inoculum) are shot when the host is in flower, and gain entrance through the stigma. The anamorphs are generally responsible for secondary dispersal, and some cause serious plant diseases.  For example, the soft brown rot of peaches is produced by a Monilia anamorph of Monilinia. 

Hypogen Discomycetes

Order: Tuberaler

Members of this order have underground ascocarp. Ascospores are inactively discharged and appear to rely for dispersal on the ascocarps being located and eaten by rodents.

Family: Tuberaceae

Tuber magnatum

The edible white truffles. Ascomata are sequestrate, hypogenous and solid. The asci, produced in a highly convoluted hymenium, are rounded and thin-walled with no trace of an operculum or other shooting mechanism, and usually contain only 1-3 spores. The ascospores of truffles have complex, highly ornamented walls. species of the genus Tuber (the true truffles), have fascinating smells. These odors are released when the ascospores are mature, and lead many mammals unerringly to the ascomata, which they unearth and consume, subsequently depositing the still-viable spores elsewhere.