The Fungi of the Upland
Area
LIZ GIRROIR AND JOHN BARBOUR
Purpose: Fungi simply put is a parasite, decomposer, or sapprophyte
(saprfit). This means it feeds off plant and animal tissue dissolving it
to get nutrients and metabolic energy. Fungi uses enzymes to dissolve the
food or decompose the host. Fungi are nonmotile like plants. Unlike plants
they do not use photosynthesis to get sugars. They also lack vascular tissue
that forms roots, leaves, and stems, called phloem and xylem. Instead, the
fungus is made of a noncellulose substance called hyphae. This substance
is grouped together to form mycelium.
Fungus can reporduce in two ways: asexually and sexually. In asexual
reproduction, a deficiency of the fungi's food supply inspires it to make
spores (or little fungus eggs). The spores are surrounded by a tough waterproof
cell wall. When the spores are in the process of release this cell wall
breaks down and the spores drop. In sexual reporduction, a gamete is formed
in a special section of the hyphae called the gametangia. Here one or two
things happen. Either the gametes release to fuse into spores or the gametangia
fuses singularly.
Within fungi are many different kinds of organisms. Mushrooms and one
slime mold is what this sight will focus on. Mushrooms are the fruiting
body of the underground fungi.
Shelf
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Gilled
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