Facts At Your Fingertips: The living world – Fungi
Fungi are life-forms such as mushrooms, yeasts, and molds that feed on plants and animals. They break down dead animals and plants, feeding on the nutrients.
When the fungi die and are themselves eaten, this recycles the nutrients.
Mushrooms
The familiar mushrooms that grow in fields are just a small part of a fungus that grows underground. The mushrooms are the “fruiting body” of the fungus—they produce and scatter spores, which grow into new fungi.
Some mushrooms are edible, but many are poisonous.
Yeast
Yeast is a tiny single-celled fungus. It feeds on sugars, producing carbon dioxide gas and alcohol.
Yeast is used in the making of bread, and the carbon dioxide it produces makes the bread rise. The alcohol evaporates away as the bread is baked.
Molds
Molds are microscopic fungi that grow in thin strands called hyphae.
They feed on dead plants and animals, making them rot. In medicine, a mold called Penicillium produces penicillin (see page 9), a valuable antibiotic for treating infections.