Kingdom Fungi Fig.1 Largest Mushroom. Courtsey: vyperlook.com
This is supposed to be the largest mushroom ever grown. Is it a Plant or something else. It is a Fungi; a different kingdom. The members of this Kingdom range from microscopic moulds and yeast cells to hyphae that grow hidden but exhibit as mush rooms. They are not plants as they have no chlorophyll and cellulose in cell walls. They cannot be animals as they have cell walls. These cell walls are made of a poly-sacharide called chitin which happen to be present in some animals such as in the exo-skeleton of Arthropoda. Structure Most fungi are similar to icebergs as a greater part of it cannot be see. The mushroom canopies that we see are the fruiting bodies or sporophytes developed for asexual reproduction. The main body is made up of fine threads called hyphae, that remain hidden to the naked eye. This part is called the mycelium.  Fig.2. Diagram of septate hyphae. .(highly magnified)  Although in some fungi the hyphae are divided into compartments with a nucleus in each, in some fungi the whole filament looks a single cell with several nuclei. Fungi live on some kind of food matter. They cannot synthesize or engulf food as some protists do. They secrete enzymes to digest the food externally and absorb the nutrition. Fig.3. Non non septate hyphae. (Coenocytic) Moulds. Penicillin is a very well known antibiotic. Alexander Fleming obtained this from a mould that had the same name.These grow on moist bread and other food substances as invisible thread like structures called hyphae What are the powdery stuff here? Reproduction.
After the mycelium has grown for a few days they produce the reproductive structures. They are called sporangia.
Yeast Saccharomyces.. This is a uni cellular fungi. This had been of immense use to man from ancient times. It makes the dough rise in making bread.  Fig 6. Yeast producing buds. Yeast is typically 3-4μm
Normal building materials and furnishings provide ample nutrition for many species of molds, but they can grow and amplify indoors only when there i s an adequate supply of moisture. Courtsey. Pubmed. Supplements
From the New Scientist of 13th Feb 1916 Paul Stamets says “We are sitting on a mould mine.”  Courtsey: Fungi Perfecti. A bracket fungus off birch trees can arry fire. When this is boiled and stretched you get a fabric . At present only the people in Tansylvania do this. As they are in the shape of a basket people make hats out of it. The magic mushroom ( psilocybin) had been able to stop a stutter he had been having. Scientist have found that it can stimulate the growth of neurons. Us Defence department has found pharmaceuticals that can act on dangerous viruses and bacteria. Bees such the juice of some fungi probably to de toxify the poisons they get from insecticides and herbicides.
 Comparing Microbes
(image courtesy of Jeff Benn) Another example is the 'Fairy Ring Toadstool' (Its scientific name is Marasmius oreades). This, in contrast to the Clouded Agaric, grows on grassy expanses such as lawns and golf courses. The fungus can be traced by the rings of dark green grass, with the mushrooms fruiting on the outer edge of the ring. The growth of the ring can be traced year on year. If there are no barriers, rings may grow outwards at up to 20 cm per year. This is a fungus which fruits early in the year, in the spring.
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