Many may wonder what does fungus look like. Earlier it was believed that fungus is a part of the plant kingdom. But research has revealed that fungus is not a plant as it does not have chlorophyll. On the other hand, fungus grows on organic matter and draws its food from it. Some kinds of fungus can grow on living plants and also on animals.
Fungus Grows On All Porous Surfaces
Fungus is an integral part of the eco system and that is probably the reason why we tend to wonder what does fungus look like. There are many kinds of fungus. Some are single celled like yeasts and others have more cells like mushrooms. Fungus grows on different kinds of surfaces like food, soil, wood, clothes, trees, walls and leather. The conditions which support the growth of fungus are warmth and moisture. You can find fungus growing on your fruits, breads, cakes as well as shoes, clothes and also in the soil in your backyard. Different kinds of fungi are yeast, molds, mildew and mushrooms.
Some kinds of fungus are very tiny and cannot be seen by the naked eye. However, when they grow collectively on a surface, they become visible as a powdery substance on any surface. For instance, yeast appears like a powdery substance on the surface it grows on, like fruits. Some kinds of fungus are very well visible to the human eye like mushrooms. Some mushrooms are in fact quite large in size. There are other kinds of fungus like molds and mildew which have a powdery feel and can be rubbed off from the surface they grow on. Fungus can have different colors. Yeast and mushrooms are whitish while molds can be black or green also. Fungus plays an extremely important role in our world. They help to decompose all kinds of organic matter as they draw food from them.
Healthy And Poisonous Fungus
Some kinds of fungus are very poisonous while there are some kinds of fungus which are beneficial too. It is important to know what does fungus look like as we can get an idea about the fungus which is bad for our health. Molds and mildew are unhealthy fungus and one should take appropriate steps to remove them once they are detected. Certain kinds of mushrooms are poisonous while there are certain varieties of mushrooms which are edible and even good for health. Yeast is also a healthy fungus and has many benefits for the human body. Penicillin is a fungus which is a landmark in medical research.
It is essential to have an idea of what does fungus look like so that we can distinguish between the good and harmful kinds.