Fungi

Fungi are a special group of living things. They are not plants, animals, or bacteria. Mushrooms, molds, and yeast are all fungi. Fungi help break down dead plants and leaves in the forest.

What Fungi Do

Fungi are nature's cleanup crew. They eat dead plants and turn them into soil. This helps new plants grow strong and healthy. Without fungi, dead leaves and trees would pile up everywhere. Fungi work quietly underground and in the woods.

Fungi We Use

People use fungi in many ways every day. Yeast makes bread rise and become fluffy. Some cheeses get their flavor from special molds. Mushrooms are tasty in soups and on pizza. A fungus even gave us a medicine called penicillin that fights germs.

Fun Facts

• The biggest living thing on Earth is a fungus in Oregon that covers over 2,000 acres.
• Some fungi glow in the dark at night.
• There are more than 140,000 kinds of fungi known to scientists.

Did You Know?

Fungi are more closely related to animals than they are to plants.