Fungi are a group of living organisms which are classified in their own kingdom. This means they are not animals, plants, or bacteria. Unlike bacteria, which have simple prokaryotic cells, fungi have complex eukaryotic cells like animals and plants. Fungi are found throughout the Earth including on land, in the water, in the air, and even in plants and animals. They vary widely in size from microscopically small to the largest organisms on Earth at several square miles large. There are more than 100,000 different identified species of fungi. The largest fungi in the world can be found in Oregon! Fungi were once classified as plants. However, they are different from plants in two important ways: 1) fungi cell walls are composed of chitin rather than cellulose (plants) and 2) fungi do not make their own food like plants do through photosynthesis. Fungi tends to decompose just about everything. Characteristics of Fungi: They are eukaryotic. They get their food by decomposing matter or eating off their hosts as parasites. They do not possess chlorophyll like plants. They reproduce through numerous spores rather than pollen, fruit, or seeds. They are usually not motile, meaning they cannot actively move around. Types of Fungi: Scientists often divide fungi into four groups: club fungi, molds, sac fungi, and imperfect fungi. Some of the more common fungi that you are likely to see or use everyday are described below. Mushrooms - Mushrooms are part of the club fungi group. Mushrooms are the fruiting body of a fungus. Some mushrooms are good to eat and are used as food, while others are very poisonous. Never eat a mushroom you find in the woods! Mold - Molds are formed by filaments called hyphae. Molds tend to form on old fruit, bread, and cheese. They sometimes look furry as the hyphae grow upward and release more mold spores from their tips. Yeast - Yeasts are small round single-celled organisms. Yeasts are important in making bread rise. The fungi kingdom is more similar to the animal kingdom than the plant kingdom.
Read more at: http://www.ducksters.com/science/biology/fungi.php
15 Comments
steve roper
5/1/2017 03:39:47 pm
ilike all the pictures even though they loook gross
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Sofia
5/1/2017 03:40:18 pm
It's pretty cool how fungi are neither plant nor animal, but have the characteristics of both
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Kylie
5/1/2017 04:32:51 pm
The pictures disgust me but it cool that u can find the biggest fungi in oregon
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Katelyn Ashton
5/1/2017 04:42:02 pm
I watched this show on Netflix and I think there was an episode on fungi. I think I watched it and it was soooooooooooooo cool!
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Meirah
5/1/2017 05:39:09 pm
I agree with Sofia, Fungi really fascinating isn't it?
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jaxon bunker
5/1/2017 05:57:26 pm
i like dem pics
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Caden
5/1/2017 06:39:57 pm
The pictures are cool
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Zane
5/1/2017 07:23:36 pm
that is so cool
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jenna
5/1/2017 07:35:35 pm
wow i thought it would be the other way around with the kingdoms
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Zaya
5/2/2017 07:16:41 am
I hate mushrooms.... 🚫🍄
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Tabitha
5/2/2017 07:29:33 am
Wow I never knew about hyphae.that is really cool
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Kailee
5/2/2017 08:01:54 am
Fungi is gross but cool and the mushroom pictures are gross. I don't like mushrooms
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Amanda
5/2/2017 08:02:20 am
Fungi is gross but it also looks cool
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Paige
5/2/2017 09:01:27 am
Fungi is so gross but really interesting!
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aqw
5/26/2020 06:16:18 am
its dirty but nice to hear intesting facts about fungi.
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |