Fungus, Lichen, and Conks Miss. Moores

Fungi: Organisms that lack roots, stems and leaves. They lack chlorophyll thus, 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 it’s 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, that can be found in several colors: orange, yellow, green and grey. The three most commonly found types of lichen are: Crustose (crusty), Foliose (leaflike), 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 (treelike 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. Below the surface of the ground, is the main part of the organism, the thread-like mycellium that collects the water and nutrients for growth. Can be found in a wild range of shapes, colors and locations in the forest.

Mycorrhizal Fungi: Grow on the roots of trees. They have a mutual beneficial relationship with a 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? Producing 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 Lichens 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 Lichens 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.