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Life on Earth is incredibly diverse, with millions of different species inhabiting every corner of the planet. To better study and understand living organisms, scientists classify them into groups based on their characteristics. One of the broadest levels of classification is the kingdom. For example, plants are grouped together in the Plant Kingdom because they can produce their own food through photosynthesis, using sunlight to generate energy. Animals, on the other hand, belong to the Animal Kingdom because they are multicellular, move independently, and consume other organisms for food.
But not all life fits neatly into these two groups. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at a unique and often misunderstood kingdom—the Fungi Kingdom (Fungi).
For centuries, fungi were mistakenly classified as plants. At first glance, some fungi—like mushrooms—seem to resemble plants. They grow from the ground, remain rooted in place, and can even have structures that look similar to flowers. However, as scientists studied fungi more closely, they discovered fundamental differences that set them apart.
Unlike plants, fungi do not perform photosynthesis. Instead, fungi are decomposers, breaking down organic material and absorbing nutrients from their surroundings. This ability makes fungi essential to life on Earth, recycling nutrients and sustaining ecosystems.
Types of Fungi:
Fungi come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are tiny and invisible to the human eye, while others grow into large, complex structures like mushrooms. Despite their differences, fungi can be grouped into a few main types based on how they look and where they are found.
Mushrooms, bracket fungi and puffballs:
The most familiar fungi are mushrooms, which pop up in forests, fields, and even in our gardens after rain. These fungi often have a stalk and a cap, and they grow from the ground or on decaying wood. Some mushrooms, like portobello mushrooms, are edible, while others, like the fly agaric with its red cap and white spots, are poisonous.
Other large fungi include bracket fungi, which grow on trees and look like shelves sticking out of the trunk, and puffballs, which release a cloud of spores when they burst open.
Molds:
Molds are a type of fungi that grow in warm, damp places. You might have seen mold growing on bread, fruit, or even forgotten leftovers in the fridge. Molds look like fuzzy patches and can be green, blue, black, or white. While some molds cause food to rot, others are useful—Penicillium mold is used to make antibiotics that fight infections.
Yeasts:
Yeasts are microscopic fungi that are too small to see without a microscope. Unlike mushrooms or molds, they do not grow in long strands or have large structures. Instead, they are single-celled organisms that live in moist environments. Yeasts are important in making bread, beer, and wine. In bread, yeast produces gas that makes the dough rise, giving bread its soft texture.
Fungi that Live with Other Organisms:
Some fungi don’t live on their own but instead form special relationships with other living things.
Lichens: These are a mix of fungi and tiny algae or bacteria. The fungi provide protection, while the algae or bacteria make food through photosynthesis. Lichens can survive in extreme places, like rocks, tree trunks, and even the frozen Arctic.
Mycorrhizal Fungi: These fungi grow on plant roots and help plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil. In return, the fungi get some of the food that the plant makes. These fungi are found underground in forests and help trees grow strong and healthy.
Fungal Reproduction: How Fungi Grow and Spread
Fungi do not grow from seeds like plants. Instead, they reproduce using spores—tiny, dust-like particles that can grow into new fungi. Some fungi also reproduce by budding, a process where a small part of the fungus grows and breaks off to form a new one.
Spores: The Most Common Way Fungi Reproduce
Most fungi grow by making millions of spores, which are so small they can float in the air or land on new surfaces.
Mushrooms have special structures under their caps called gills or pores, where spores are made. When the spores are ready, they drop into the air and are carried by wind or water to new places.
Molds grow tiny stalks with round tops, like little lollipops. Inside these tops, spores develop and, when released, spread to new places, like on food or damp surfaces.
Puffball fungi store spores inside a round shape. When touched or disturbed, they release a cloud of spores into the air.
Once spores from mushrooms, molds or puffballs land in the right environment—somewhere damp and warm—they start growing into new fungi.