One of the group of organisms in the kingdom
Fungi, separate from green plants. Fungi lack
leaves and roots; they contain no
chlorophyll, and reproduce by spores. Moulds,
yeasts, and mushrooms are all types of
fungus. Because fungi have no chlorophyll,
they must get food from organic substances.
They are either parasites, existing on living
plants or animals, or saprophytes, living on
dead matter. Some 50,000 different species
have been identified, including slime moulds,
mildews, rusts and smuts, mushrooms,
toadstools, and puff-balls. Some are edible,
but many are highly poisonous. Before the
classification Fungi came into use, they were
included within the division Thallophyta,
along with algae and bacteria.