Fungus, Lichen, and Conks

Fungi:

Organisms that lack roots, stems and leaves. They lack chlorophyll, so they cannot photosynthesize their own food.

Live where they can absorb organic matter as well as minerals and water, so they grow on the remains of plants or animals, or as parasites on living organisms.

They reproduce by producing spores carried about by the wind until they settle in a suitable spot where they can grow.

Examples of Fungi

Mildews, rusts, mushrooms, puffballs, conks, yeasts and molds.

Conks:

A type of fungus found attached to tree trunks.

They grown like steps or shelves and have growth rings like trees.

They look soft, like mushrooms, but are very hard and are firmly attached to the trunk.

Lichens

Composite organisms created by a relationship between fungus and algae. The fungus absorbs the water and nutrients, while the algae produces the food.

If it can produce its own food, is it a plant?

Lichens

Grow on walls, rocks, tree bark, and other places where neither fungus nor algae could exist alone.

They grow very slowly. They can withstand extreme heat and

cold (but not smoke or fumes).

The Types of Lichens:

There are 6 types of lichens in total. They can be found in several colours: orange, yellow, green and grey.

The three most commonly found types of lichen are: Crustose (crusty), Foliose (leaf-like) and Fruticose (treelike, or shrubby).

Crustose (Crusty) Lichen:

Grows flat or may be embedded in the bark or rock surface.

The entire undersurface of this type is attached.

Foliose (leaf-like) Lichen:

Attached in spots with margins or ridges that are often lobed and free. They curl up off of the surface from which they grow, and look like crumbled leaves.

This type is attached to the surface by many root-like threads.

Fruticose (tree-like or shrubby) Lichen

Like a branched plant. They grow upright or hang from the

surface from which they grow and are only attached to the surface at the base.

Mushrooms

They produce spores for reproduction. The main part of the organism is below

the surface of the ground; it’s the thread-like mycellium that collects the water and nutrients for growth.

Can be found in a wild range of shapes, colours and locations in the forest.

Mycorrhizal Fungi:

Grow on the roots of trees. They have a mutual beneficial relationship

with trees. When sugar is produced in the leaves of the

tree, it is sent out to provide food for all parts of the tree, including the roots. The fungi feeds on the sugar provided to the roots. In return, the fungi breaks down the nitrogen and phosphorous in the soil enabling the tree to make use of it.

Mycorrhizal Fungi:

They have an edible, blackish fruit called truffles.

FUNGI JEOPARDY

Fungi

Conks

Lichen

Mushrooms

100

100

100

100

200 200 200 200

300 300 300 300

400 400 400 400

Fungi 100

Fungi lack what chemical that is necessary for photosynthesis (producing it’s own food)?

Chlorophyll

Fungi 200

Are fungi considered a plant?

Yes or No

No

Fungi 300

How do fungi reproduce?

Produce spores carried about by the wind until they settle in a suitable spot where they can grow.

Fungi 400

Some examples of fungi are?

Mildews, rusts, mushrooms, puffballs, conks, yeasts and molds.

Conks 100

Where are conks found?

Attached to tree trunks

Conks 200

How are conks similar to trees?

They have growth rings like trees.

Conks 300

Conks are very soft (true or false)

False, conks appear to be soft, but they are actually very hard.

Conks 400

Conks are like plants and can produce their own food (true or false)

False, conks lack chlorophyll required in producing their own food.

Lichen 100

Lichen are 2 organisms in one

__________ and __________

Fungus and an Algae

BONUS QUESTION: What does each part do?

Lichen 200

Where do lichen grow?

Walls, rocks, fences, or tree bark.

Lichen 300

What are the three main types of lichen?

Crustose (crusty), Foliose (leaf-like), Fruticose (tree or shrub-like).

Lichen 400

Lichen can survive in what kind of environment?

They can leave in extreme heat or cold, but cannot survive near smoke or other fumes.

Mushrooms 100

How do mushrooms reproduce?

They produce spores that are carried on the wind.

Mushrooms 200

The main part of the mushroom (the part that gets the food) is located where?

Below the ground/surface the mushroom is living on.

BONUS QUESTION: this part of the mushroom is called what?

Mushrooms 300

Is this a mushroom?

No, it is a conk

Mushrooms 400

Some mushrooms are poisonous (true or false)

True, so tasting wild mushrooms is not a good idea.