|
|
 |
|
|
|
Of Western Australia
Kingdom Fungi
|
|
Can you imagine the amount of plant and animal material of every leaf that has ever fallen from a tree, and every tree and branch that has ever fallen to the ground, and every creature that has ever lived and died and all the waste those creatures have produced over all their time on the planet? What if it was on the ground where it fell!!! Can you imagine the smell, not to mention the gases and the ugly site of bodies!!!!
Well thankfully we have fungi. Yes some fungi exists to break down or decompose all the dead leaf and dead animal matter. Dead logs, leaves and animals have energy still stored in them. When fungi decomposes dead material it gives back to the surrounding live plants the gas called carbon dioxide which the plants use to make their energy. - It can be a partnership between the dead and the living. - Some fungi have a relationship with living plant roots that benefits both the fungi and the plants. |
- Other fungi produce penicillin that is used for antibiotics in medicine. This has saved so many lives. -Some fungi fruits after fire has wiped out an area providing a quick food source for wildlife. - Fungi is an important food source for some animals and some humans. For example our Woylies (pictured here), bandicoots and the Gilbert's Poteroo in Western Australia dig up and eat fungi and spread the fungi's spores when they poop.
- Fungi like yeast is used to make things like bread and beer. - Some orchids can only live with a certain species of fungi as their partner. |
|
Not all fungi can be seen. More fungi
is microscopic than can be seen by
our eyes. What we see on top of the ground or growing on a rotten log or a
living tree is
just the fruit of the fungus. Masses of threads called hyphae
(pronounced hi-fay)
which are
attached to the fruit go underground in large areas called a mycelium. These hyphae are
hollow tubes that suck up the nutrients.
Not all fungi function the same way. |
What's the Diff?
What is the difference between fungi and plants?
|
|
|
|
The term 'Fungi' is used to name all toadstools,
ground fungi, bracket fungi and
mushrooms but does not include algae, slime moulds, lichen or mosses they are
all in other kingdoms. Which one of these names below do you think is not a common name for a fungus?
|
|
Ear fungus |
Jelly fungus |
Earthstars |
Basket fungus |
Truffles |
Birds nest fungus |
Coral fungus |
Earth tongues |
Stinkhorns |
|
Fungi usually changes shape and colour as it ages.
|
Click on these pages to take you on a weird and wonderful trip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weird & beautiful fungi page 2
|
|
|
|
|
Weird & beautiful fungi page 5
|
|
|
|
|
We will be updating these pages with new fungi photos as they are taken throughout the years so please come back and check us out. P.S. All those fungi names in the blue box are correct, they are all common names for fungi found in Western Australia! Other sites and books to read about fungi in Australia are;
This is a CSIRO site and explains the relationship of fungi and plant roots
suitable for high school students "A Field Guide To The Larger Fungi
of the Darling Scarp and South West of Western Australia" by Kevin
Griffiths. Always check your references.
|
|
|
All Content, written
and graphical Copyright © Wildlife Education Services 2003. |
