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The Fungi Portal

A fungus is any member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. The Fungi are classified as a kingdom that is separate from plants and animals. The discipline of biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as mycology or fungal biology, which is historically regarded as a branch of botany, even though genetic studies have shown that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants. Fungi reproduce via spores and grow as hyphae, mycelia, and futher specialized structures. Fungal spores are often produced on specialized structures or in fruiting bodies, such as the head of a mushroom. Abundant worldwide, most fungi are mostly invisible to the naked eye because of the small size of their structures, and their cryptic lifestyles in soil, on dead matter, and as symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient cycling and exchange. They have long been used as a direct source of food, such as mushrooms and truffles, as a leavening agent for bread, and in fermentation of various food products, such as wine, beer, and soy sauce.

Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of antibiotics, and, more recently, various enzymes produced by fungi are used industrially and in detergents. Fungi are also used as biological agents to control weeds and pests. Many species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species are consumed recreationally or in traditional ceremonies as a source of psychotropic compounds. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases or food spoilage can have a large impact on human food supplies and local economies. Despite their importance on human affairs, little is known of the true biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at around 1.5 million species, with about 5% of these having been formally classified.

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Rhodotus is a genus in the fungus family Physalacriaceae. It is a monotypic genus and consists of the single mushroom species Rhodotus palmatus, known in the vernacular as the netted rhodotus, the rosy veincap, or the wrinkled peach. This uncommon species has a circumboreal distribution, and has been collected in eastern North America, northern Africa, Europe, and Asia; declining populations in Europe have led to its appearance in over half of the European fungal Red Lists of threatened species. Typically found growing on the stumps and logs of rotting hardwoods, mature specimens may usually be identified by the pinkish color and the distinctive ridged and veined surface of their rubbery caps; variations in the color and quantity of light received during development lead to variations in the size, shape, and cap color of fruit bodies.

The unique characteristics of R. palmatus have made it difficult for taxonomists to agree on how it should be classified, resulting in an elaborate taxonomical history and an extensive synonymy. First named Agaricus palmatus by Bulliard in 1785, it was reclassified into several different genera before becoming Rhodotus in 1926. The familial placement of the genus Rhodotus within the order Agaricales has also been subject to dispute, and the taxon has been transferred variously to the families Amanitaceae, Entolomataceae, and Tricholomataceae. More recently, molecular phylogenetics analysis has helped determine that Rhodotus is most closely related to genera in the Physalacriaceae.

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Coprinopsis atramentaria, commonly known as the common ink cap or inky cap, is an edible (but sometimes poisonous, see below) mushroom found in Europe and North America. Previously known as Coprinus atramentarius, it is the second best known ink cap and previous member of the genus Coprinus after C. comatus. It is a widespread and common fungus, found throughout the northern hemisphere. Clumps of mushrooms arise after rain from spring to autumn, commonly in urban and disturbed habitats such as vacant lots and lawns as well as grassy areas. The grey-brown cap is initially bell-shaped before opening and flattening and disintegrating. The flesh is thin and the taste mild. It can be eaten, but is poisonous when consumed with alcohol – hence another common name, tippler's bane.

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Credit: Dr. Holger Krisp

Thelephora palmata (commonly known as the stinking earthfan) is a species of clavarioid fungus in the family Thelephoraceae. It is found in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

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Did you know?

... that the mushroom Stropharia ambigua has been said to taste like old leaves?
... that a humongous fungus caused a media stir after it was reported to cover an area of 37 acres (15 ha), weigh at least 21,000 pounds (10,000 kg), and be 1,500 years old?}
... that the mushroom Cortinarius archeri is featured on the cover of the book Fungi of Southern Australia?
... that the mushroom Russula integra is a popular food in Northern Europe?
... that Spongiforma, a sponge-like bolete newly described in 2009, smells like coal tar?

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General images - show new batch

The following are images from various fungi-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1
Diagram of a mycoloop (fungus loop)
Parasitic chytrids can transfer material from large inedible phytoplankton to zooplankton. Chytrids zoospores are excellent food for zooplankton in terms of size (2–5 μm in diameter), shape, nutritional quality (rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterols). Large colonies of host phytoplankton may also be fragmented by chytrid infections and become edible to zooplankton. (from Marine fungi)
Image 2Morphological diversity of fungi collected from a marine sponge species, Ircinia variabilis (from Marine fungi)
Image 3Phylogenetic and symbiogenetic tree of living organisms, showing a view of the origins of eukaryotes and prokaryotes (from Marine fungi)
Image 4Fungi within Zygomycota form progametangia with suspensors during mating (from Mating in fungi)
Image 5A tinder fungus, Fomes fomentarius (from Mushroom)
Image 6
Roles of fungi in the marine carbon cycle
Roles of fungi in the marine carbon cycle by processing phytoplankton-derived organic matter. Parasitic fungi, as well as saprotrophic fungi, directly assimilate phytoplankton organic carbon. By releasing zoospores, the fungi bridge the trophic linkage to zooplankton, known as the mycoloop. By modifying the particulate and dissolved organic carbon, they can affect bacteria and the microbial loop. These processes may modify marine snow chemical composition and the subsequent functioning of the biological carbon pump. (from Marine fungi)
Image 7Salmon with fungal disease (from Marine fungi)
Image 8Pennate diatom from an Arctic meltpond, infected with two chytrid-like [zoo-]sporangium fungal pathogens (in false-colour red). Scale bar = 10 µm. (from Marine fungi)
Image 9Fungi within Ascomycota form ascogonium and antheridium with trichogyne bridge (from Mating in fungi)
Image 10Ling Zhi-8, an immunomodulatory protein isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (from Medicinal uses of fungi)
Image 11Morchella elata asci viewed with phase contrast microscopy (from Mushroom)
Image 12The photochemistry of vitamin D₂ biosynthesis (from Medicinal uses of fungi)
Image 13Close-up cross section of mushroom. (from Mushroom)
Image 14Common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) has a glebal hymenium; the interior is white when it is young, but as it matures, the interior becomes brown containing spores (from Mushroom)
Image 15Ganoderma lingzhi (from Mushroom)
Image 16Oral candidiasis (from Fungal infection)
Image 17There are over 100 psychoactive mushroom species of genus Psilocybe native to regions all around the world. (from Mushroom)
Image 18Typical mating fusion of two compatible monokaryons in Basidiomycota (from Mating in fungi)
Image 19Onychomycosis (from Fungal infection)
Image 20Group photograph taken at a meeting of the British Mycological Society in 1913 (from Mycology)
Image 21Eumycetoma (from Fungal infection)
Image 22
Mycoloop links between phytoplankton and zooplankton
Chytrid‐mediated trophic links between phytoplankton and zooplankton (mycoloop). While small phytoplankton species can be grazed upon by zooplankton, large phytoplankton species constitute poorly edible or even inedible prey. Chytrid infections on large phytoplankton can induce changes in palatability, as a result of host aggregation (reduced edibility) or mechanistic fragmentation of cells or filaments (increased palatability). First, chytrid parasites extract and repack nutrients and energy from their hosts in form of readily edible zoospores. Second, infected and fragmented hosts including attached sporangia can also be ingested by grazers (i.e. concomitant predation). (from Marine fungi)
Image 23Morphological characteristics of the caps of mushrooms (from Mushroom)
Image 24Psychotropic mushroom Amanita muscaria, commonly known as "fly agaric" (from Mushroom)
Image 25The blue gills of Lactarius indigo, a milk-cap mushroom (from Mushroom)
Image 26Boletus edulis, also known as "cep", is an edible wild bolete found in Europe (from Mushroom)
Image 27Young Amanita phalloides "death cap" mushrooms, with a matchbox for size comparison (from Mushroom)
Image 28Neurospora crassa life cycle. The haploid mycelium reproduces asexually by two processes: (1) simple proliferation of existing mycelium, and (2) formation of conidia (macro- and micro-) which can be dispersed and then germinate to produce new mycelium. In the sexual cycle, mating can only occur between individual strains of different mating type, A and a. Fertilization occurs by the passage of nuclei of conidia or mycelium of one mating type into the protoperithecia of the opposite mating type through the trichogyne. Fusion of the nuclei of opposite mating types occurs within the protoperithecium to form a zygote (2N) nucleus. (from Mating in fungi)
Image 29Maitake, a polypore mushroom (from Mushroom)
Image 30Chytrid parasites of marine diatoms. (A) Chytrid sporangia on Pleurosigma sp. The white arrow indicates the operculate discharge pore. (B) Rhizoids (white arrow) extending into diatom host. (C) Chlorophyll aggregates localized to infection sites (white arrows). (D and E) Single hosts bearing multiple zoosporangia at different stages of development. The white arrow in panel E highlights branching rhizoids. (F) Endobiotic chytrid-like sporangia within diatom frustule. Bars = 10 μm. (from Marine fungi)
Image 31Psilocybe zapotecorum, a hallucinogenic mushroom (from Mushroom)
Image 32Amanita muscaria, the most easily recognised "toadstool", is frequently depicted in fairy stories and on greeting cards. It is often associated with gnomes. (from Mushroom)
Image 33Tinea corporis (from Fungal infection)
Image 34Agaricus bisporus, one of the most widely cultivated and consumed mushrooms (from Mushroom)
Image 35Culinary mushrooms in a diversity of shapes and colors (from Mushroom)
Image 36Yellow flower pot mushrooms (Leucocoprinus birnbaumii) at various states of development (from Mushroom)
Image 37Agaricus bitorquis mushroom emerging through asphalt concrete in summer (from Mushroom)
Image 38Agaricus bisporus mushroom is a cultivated edible mushroom for foods and has many names such as "champignon", " button mushroom", "white mushroom", and " portobello" (from Mushroom)
Image 39
Driftwood
(from Marine fungi)
Image 40Amanita jacksonii buttons emerging from their universal veils (from Mushroom)
Image 41
Lichen covered rocks
(from Marine fungi)
Image 42Pityriasis versicolor (from Fungal infection)
Image 43Mushrooms are considered a kind of fungal reproductive organ. (from Mycology)
Image 44The red yeast rice fungus, Monascus purpureus, can synthesize three statins. (from Medicinal uses of fungi)
Image 45Ferula mushroom in Bingöl, Turkey . This is an edible type of mushroom. (from Mushroom)
Image 46A mushroom (probably Russula brevipes) parasitized by Hypomyces lactifluorum resulting in a "lobster mushroom" (from Mushroom)