By: Jim Debiec Brittany Aviles Amanda Lorah

1. Fungi Kingdom Witches' butter: A brightly-colored yellow fungus that grows on moss-covered logs in the rain-soaked Douglas fir forests of Oregon. When it imbibes water, the fungus resembles a blob of melting butter on a log By: Jim Debiec Brittany Aviles Amanda Lorah

2. Characteristics Fungi vary in size, some are microscopic; others weigh in several kilograms. The bodies of most fungi consist of thread like filaments called hyphae. They are classified according to their structure and method of reproduction.

3. Characteristics Eukaryotic, non-vascular organisms. Cell walls similar in structure to plants but differ in chemical composition. Fungi cell walls are composed of mostly chitin- plant cell walls are composed mostly of cellulose.

4. Characteristics Fungi live everywhere- in the air, in water, on land, in soil, and in and on plants and animals. Fungi are heterotrophs, obtaining their nutrients by absorption. Some are unicellular. All are achlorophyllous- they lack chlorophyll pigments and are incapable of photosynthesis. Most fungi feed on the remains of dead plants and animals.

5. Characteristics Mushrooms grow in circles because each year the plant grows a little further outward in search of more food. These circles are called “fairy rings.”

6. Examples of Fungi Mushrooms Yeasts Mold

7. Mushrooms • It is the fruit of a mushroom plant. • They do not contain any chlorophyll and are saprophytes which means they obtain nutrients from dead matter. • Mushrooms store plenty of nutrients and other compounds.

8. Yeasts • Yeasts are commonly found on plant leaves, flowers, soil, and salt water. • It can be found on skin surfaces of warm blooded animals • They are single celled budding organisms • The most common infection for humans is called candidiasis.

9. Molds • Mold grows best in warm, damp, and humid conditions • The most common places to find molds are in antique shops, green houses, saunas, and farms. • Molds can cause symptoms of stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritations.

10. Fungi are not plants. Most species are mutlicellular. They never form roots, stems, or leaves. All fungi lacks chlorophyll, the green coloring in leaves that is essential to produce carbohydrates by photosynthesis. Certain types of fungi break down organic remains of dead plants and animals, a necessary process to keep soil fertile. Have a close relation to animals. There are two different phyla (classes) of fungi. *Coral Fungi

11. Myxomycophyta • Mick – suh – my – KAH – fuh – tuh. • Lack cell walls. • Example: • Slime molds. *Myxomycophyta. *Slime Mold.

12. *Eumycophyta. Eumycophyta • Have cell walls, also known as “true” fungi. • Classified into four groups: • Phycomycetes - Algalike Fungi. b. Ascomycetes - Sac Fungi. • Basidiomycetes - Club fungi. • Deuteromycetes - Imperfect Fungi. *Phycomycetes. *Asidiomycetes. *Deuteromycetes. *Basidiomycetes.

13. Random Facts *Hyphae. Bodies of true fungi are made of branching filaments. Groups of filaments are call hyphae. Fungi do not require light, most grow best in the dark. Enzymes are secreted into the food supply to help break it down. Food is digested outside the body and absorbed through the hyphae. There are over 75,000 kinds of “true” fungi. Cell walls are made out of chitin. *Chitin.