Class Tremellomycetes is a group of fungi within the phylum Basidiomycota, primarily known for their yeast-like and gelatinous fruiting bodies. Members of this class exhibit diverse lifestyles, including saprotrophic (decomposing dead organic matter) and parasitic interactions, often on other fungi or plants. Many species produce a characteristic jelly-like texture in their fruiting structures, while others exist mainly as unicellular yeasts. Tremellomycetes are ecologically important for nutrient cycling in ecosystems and include species of medical and industrial relevance, such as Tremella (used in food and traditional medicine) and some opportunistic human pathogens like Cryptococcus. They reproduce both sexually, through basidiospores, and asexually, via budding or fragmentation.