IntroductionFungi are without doubt the most important link among all life on the planet.
ungi have evolved the ability to utilize almost anything as a food source; they trick plants—and animals—into doing their bidding. They effectively poison, trap, kill, enslave, and zombify other living organisms. And they are without doubt the most important link among all life on the planet.
Neither plants nor animals, fungi form their own kingdom of living things. Although quite different from us, they are more like animals than any other life-form. This book aims to introduce some of the more charismatic species from the mysterious kingdom of fungi.
Most species of fungi we will probably never see nor get to know; most are microbes and too small to see with the unaided eye. However, some fungi produce reproductive structures (mushrooms) that are large enough to be seen, and these “macrofungi” will be the main focus of this book.
Unlike plants, which can create their own food by harnessing the energy of sunlight, fungi have to take energy and nutrients from other organisms (what’s called a heterotrophic lifestyle).
Most fungi survive by doing one of three things in the environment. Many fungi are saprotrophic, meaning they break down dead matter from other organisms in order to live. Others get what they need by parasitizing a living host: many animal and plant diseases are caused by molds and other fungi; and others live as partners with other organisms, especially plants. Some fungi are harmful to their hosts; others may be toxic if eaten. But the more we learn about them, the more we see that the healthy function of the natural world around us is closely tied to them.
Fungi grow in a wide variety of habitats, and most, if not all, have an important role in the environment. Many species are specific about their food source and will be found near certain kinds of trees. Some prefer dry areas such as deserts or beaches. Many fungi are important as decomposing organisms, aiding in the breakdown of wood, leaves, and other organic debris in woodlands, grasslands, and even urban settings where woody mulch is used. This results in the recycling of essential nutrients.
If you are fascinated by fungi but perplexed by their myriad forms and colors, this book is for you. With careful observations of shapes, colors, odors, and so on, along with noting the habitat in which they are found, it is possible to get to know and better understand them.
Copyright © 2025 by Britt A. Bunyard. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
