Question 1

What are fungi?

Accepted Answer

Fungi are living things like mushrooms, mold, and yeast. They are not plants or animals, but they have their own kingdom!

Question 2

Where do fungi grow?

Accepted Answer

Fungi can grow almost anywhere! They like dark, moist places like forests, under leaves, or even in your house if it’s damp.

Question 3

Are mushrooms plants?

Accepted Answer

No, mushrooms are a type of fungi, which is different from plants. They don’t need sunlight to grow like plants do.

Question 4

Why are fungi important?

Accepted Answer

Fungi help break down dead things like leaves and trees, turning them into soil. This helps new plants grow and keeps nature clean.

Question 5

Can fungi be eaten?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some fungi like mushrooms are safe and delicious to eat. But not all fungi are safe, so you should never eat wild mushrooms without permission.

Question 6

Do fungi move?

Accepted Answer

Fungi don’t move around like animals, but they do grow and spread by releasing tiny spores into the air.

Question 7

What are spores?

Accepted Answer

Spores are like tiny seeds that fungi use to spread and grow new fungi. They float in the air and land in places where new fungi can grow.

Question 8

Are all mushrooms poisonous?

Accepted Answer

No, not all mushrooms are poisonous. Some are safe to eat, but you need to be very careful because some can make you sick.

Question 9

Do fungi make their own food?

Accepted Answer

No, fungi don’t make their own food. Instead, they absorb nutrients from other things, like dead plants or animals.

Question 10

Why do mushrooms grow in circles?

Accepted Answer

Mushrooms can grow in circles called fairy rings because the fungus grows outwards evenly from a central point, kind of like a ripple in water.

Question 11

Can fungi help make medicine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fungi are used to make some medicines like penicillin, a kind of antibiotic that helps cure infections.

Question 12

How do fungi differ from animals?

Accepted Answer

Unlike animals, fungi don’t have mouths or need to move around to find food. They absorb their food from the environment around them.

Question 13

Can fungi live inside animals?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some fungi can live inside animals and help them, like the fungi that help cows digest grass.

Question 14

What is mold?

Accepted Answer

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in clumps that can look fuzzy or slimy. It grows in damp and warm places.

Question 15

Why do some fungi glow in the dark?

Accepted Answer

Some fungi glow in the dark to attract insects. These insects help spread the spores, which can grow into new fungi.

Question 16

What do yeast fungi do?

Accepted Answer

Yeast is a type of fungus used to help bread rise and to make some drinks fizzy. It's tiny but very useful!

Question 17

Do fungi have roots?

Accepted Answer

Fungi don’t have roots like plants do, but they have tiny thread-like parts called hyphae that spread out to find food.

Question 18

Can fungi be harmful?

Accepted Answer

Some fungi can be harmful if they grow in the wrong places or if they're poisonous, but most are harmless and even helpful.

Question 19

What do fungi look like?

Accepted Answer

Fungi can look very different! Some look like mushrooms with caps and stems, while others form flat or fuzzy patches like mold.

Question 20

Why do mushrooms pop up so quickly?

Accepted Answer

Mushrooms can grow quickly after rain because they absorb water and swell up, which helps them spread their spores.

The Science of the Fungi Kingdom - 20 FAQs Explained Simply