Clitocybe Odora Var

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

© Demetrio Merino Alcántara [email protected] Condiciones de uso Clitocybe odora (Bull.) P. Kumm., Führ. Pilzk. (Zerbst): 121 (1871) 20 mm Tricholomataceae, Agaricales, Agaricomycetidae, Agaricomycetes, Agaricomycotina, Basidiomycota, Fungi Sinónimos homotípicos: Agaricus odorus Bull., Herb. Fr. (Paris) 4: tab. 176 (1784) [1783-84] Agaricus odorus Bull., Herb. Fr. (Paris) 4: tab. 176 (1784) [1783-84] f. odorus Agaricus odorus Bull., Herb. Fr. (Paris) 4: tab. 176 (1784) [1783-84] var. odorus Clitocybe odora (Bull.) P. Kumm., Führ. Pilzk. (Zerbst): 121 (1871) f. odora Clitocybe odora (Bull.) P. Kumm., Führ. Pilzk. (Zerbst): 121 (1871) var. odora Gymnopus odorus (Bull.) Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. (London) 1: 606 (1821) Lepista odora (Bull.) Harmaja, Karstenia 15: 15 (1976) Rubeolarius odorus (Bull.) Raithelh., Die Gattung Clitocybe (Stuttgart) 1: 17 (1981) Material estudiado: España, Sevilla, Constantina, Tres Hermanas, 30STG7096, 622 m, en suelo bajo Castanea sativa, 1-XI-2015, leg. Concha Morente, Dianora Estrada, Tomás Illescas, Joxel González y Demetrio Merino, JA-CUSSTA: 9074. España, Córdoba, Córdoba, Lagar de la Cruz, 30SUH3900, 572 m, en suelo bajo Quercus suber, 2-XI-2015, leg. Concha Morente, Dianora Estrada, Tomás Illescas, Joxel González y Demetrio Merino, JA-CUSSTA: 9075. Marruecos, Chefchaouen, Chefchaouen, SIBE Bouachem, 30STD8395, 1.000 m, en suelo en bosque de Quercus suber, Cistus monspeliensis, Arbutus unedo y Erica arbórea, 7-XII-2017, leg. Demetrio Merino, JA-CUSSTA: 9076. Descripción macroscópica: Píleo de 8-74 mm de diámetro, de convexo a plano, margen incurvado, lobulado. Cutícula radialmente fibrilosa, de color azul ver- doso, palidece al madurar. Láminas adnadas a subdecurrentes, concoloras con el píleo o algo más claras, arista finamente aserra- da, concolora. Estípite de 24-69 x 4-10 mm, cilíndrico, estriado longitudinalmente, blanquecino. Olor intenso a anís. Descripción microscópica: Basidios claviformes, tetraspóricos, con fíbula basal, de (23,3-)25,8-31,6(-32,1) × (5,9-)6,5-7,8(-8,4) µm; N = 17; Me = 27,9 × 7,0 µm. Basidiosporas elipsoidales, lisas, hialinas, apiculadas, gutuladas, de (5,5-)5,8-7,4(-8,6) × (3,6-)3,8-4,9(-5,4) µm; Q = (1,2-)1,3- 1,7(-2,1); N = 63; Me = 6,6 × 4,5 µm; Qe = 1,5. Cistidios no observados. Píleipellis de hifas paralelas, fibuladas. Clitocybe odora 20151101-20151102-20171207/20180119 Página 1 de 3 A. Basidios. B. Esporas. Clitocybe odora 20151101-20151102-20171207/20180119 Página 2 de 3 C. Píleipellis. Observaciones Especie claramente diferenciable por su intenso olor a anís, que incluso puede apreciarse a cierta distancia antes de ver los ejem- plares, y por sus tonos verde azulados en la juventud (BREITENBACH & KRÄNZLIN, 1991:164). Otras descripciones y fotografías BREITENBACH J. & F. KRÄNZLIN (1991). Fungi of Switzerland Vol. 3. Bolets and agarics 1st. part. Mykologia Luczern. Pág. 164. 20 mm 20 mm Salvo indicación en contrario, las fotos están realizadas por Demetrio Merino. Clitocybe odora 20151101-20151102-20171207/20180119 Página 3 de 3 .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Forest Fungi in Ireland
FOREST FUNGI IN IRELAND PAUL DOWDING and LOUIS SMITH COFORD, National Council for Forest Research and Development Arena House Arena Road Sandyford Dublin 18 Ireland Tel: + 353 1 2130725 Fax: + 353 1 2130611 © COFORD 2008 First published in 2008 by COFORD, National Council for Forest Research and Development, Dublin, Ireland. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from COFORD. All photographs and illustrations are the copyright of the authors unless otherwise indicated. ISBN 1 902696 62 X Title: Forest fungi in Ireland. Authors: Paul Dowding and Louis Smith Citation: Dowding, P. and Smith, L. 2008. Forest fungi in Ireland. COFORD, Dublin. The views and opinions expressed in this publication belong to the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of COFORD. i CONTENTS Foreword..................................................................................................................v Réamhfhocal...........................................................................................................vi Preface ....................................................................................................................vii Réamhrá................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgements...............................................................................................ix
[Show full text]
Antibacterial Activities of Clitocybe Nuda Extract on Foodborne Pathogens
Antibacterial activities of Clitocybe nuda extract on foodborne pathogens by Liang Bo A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama August 4, 2012 Keywords: Clitocybe nuda, antibacterial activity, foodborne pathogen Copyright 2012 by Liang Bo Approved by Tung-Shi Huang, Chair, Associate Professor of Poultry Science Jean Weese, Professor of Poultry Science Thomas McCaskey, Professor of Animal Science Abstract The addition of antimicrobial agents to foods is an important approach for controlling foodborne pathogens to improve food safety. Currently, most antimicrobial agents in foods are synthetic compounds. Researchers are looking for natural antimicrobial agents to substitute for synthetic compounds in foods to control microbial growth in foods. Clitocybe nuda is an edible macrofungus which produces a large number of biologically active compounds with antibacterial activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activities of Clitocybe nuda extract on foodborne pathogens and its stability at different temperatures and pHs, and to estimate the molecular weights of some of the antibacterial components of the fungus. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by testing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on four foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7, and Staphylococcus aureus. The stability of the extract was tested at pH 4-10, and temperatures of 4, 72, 100, and 121°C. The growth of pathogens was significantly inhibited by the Clitocybe nuda extract. The MIC50 for Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus are 79.20, 84.51, 105.86, and 143.60 mg/mL, respectively.
[Show full text]
Changes Tricholomataceae, Clitocybeae Clitocybe (Fr.: Fr
PERS OONIA Published by Rijksherbarium / Hortus Botanicus, Leiden Volume 16, Part 2, pp. 225-232 (1996) Notulae ad Floram agaricinam neerlandicam XXIV-XXVIII. Some taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in the Tricholomataceae, tribus Clitocybeae Thomas+W. Kuyper Cli- Three new taxa and three new combinations are introduced in Tricholomataceae, tribus tocybeae. Taxonomic and nomenclatural comments on some other taxa are added. XXIV. A NOMENCLATURAL NOTE ON ARMILLARIA TABESCENS Armillaria tabescens Dennis al. The name of this species is cited as (Scop.: Fr.) et (Ter- double the tabescens morshuizen, 1995). However, this is incorrect. First, name Agaricus has never been sanctionedby Fries. Second, the combinationin Armillaria has to be attrib- uted to Emel (1921), as already noted by Dennis et al. (1960: 18) who were unable to confirmthis combination. Emel (1921: 50) in a dissertation that was probably not very widely distributed, in- tabescens. title of his dissertation troduced the combination Armillaria The (Le genre de la and remarks in the Armillaria, Fr. sa suppression systematique botanique), text does characters be main- (p. 75) that the genus Armillaria not possess enough constant to Emel did not the Under Art. 34.1. et tained, suggest that accept genus. (Greuter al., 1994) the name would therefore be invalid. However, Emel's remarks are better interpreted that he just considered the Friesian taxon Armillaria as unnatural (a view universally accepted nowadays) and that he proposed the species of that genus to be placed in other genera. However, as Art. 34.1. only refers to anticipation of futureacceptance of a taxon, and not listed combination to anticipation of future rejection of a taxon, and as Emel explicitly the A.
[Show full text]
MUSHROOMS of the OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST Compiled By
MUSHROOMS OF THE OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST Compiled by Dana L. Richter, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI for Ottawa National Forest, Ironwood, MI March, 2011 Introduction There are many thousands of fungi in the Ottawa National Forest filling every possible niche imaginable. A remarkable feature of the fungi is that they are ubiquitous! The mushroom is the large spore-producing structure made by certain fungi. Only a relatively small number of all the fungi in the Ottawa forest ecosystem make mushrooms. Some are distinctive and easily identifiable, while others are cryptic and require microscopic and chemical analyses to accurately name. This is a list of some of the most common and obvious mushrooms that can be found in the Ottawa National Forest, including a few that are uncommon or relatively rare. The mushrooms considered here are within the phyla Ascomycetes – the morel and cup fungi, and Basidiomycetes – the toadstool and shelf-like fungi. There are perhaps 2000 to 3000 mushrooms in the Ottawa, and this is simply a guess, since many species have yet to be discovered or named. This number is based on lists of fungi compiled in areas such as the Huron Mountains of northern Michigan (Richter 2008) and in the state of Wisconsin (Parker 2006). The list contains 227 species from several authoritative sources and from the author’s experience teaching, studying and collecting mushrooms in the northern Great Lakes States for the past thirty years. Although comments on edibility of certain species are given, the author neither endorses nor encourages the eating of wild mushrooms except with extreme caution and with the awareness that some mushrooms may cause life-threatening illness or even death.
[Show full text]
Rock Island State Park Species List
Rock Island State Park Species List Place cursor over cells with red By Cumberland Mycological Society, Crossville, TN triangles to view pictures click on underlined species for web links to details about those species and/or comments Inventory List: Common Name (if applicable) Jun-12 Oct-12 Jun-13 Aug-14 Edibility Notes* Aleuria aurantia syn. Peziza aruantia "Orange Peel" x(?) edible but flavorless Agaricus placomyces "Eastern Flat-topped Agaricus" x(?) poisonous Agaricus pocillator none x unknown -possibly poisonous Agaricus silvicola none x edible (with extreme caution) Amanita abrupta "Abrupt-bulbed Lepidella" x unknown and possibly poisonous Amanita amerifulva [often called 'Amanita fulva' -a European species] “Tawny Grisette” x x edible -with extreme caution!! Amanita amerirubescens "Blusher" x x x edible -with extreme caution!! Amanita banningiana "Mary Banning's Slender Caesar" x x Amanita bisporigera = A. virosa sensu auct. amer. (Ref. RET) "Destroying Angel" x x x deadly poisonous! Amanita brunnescens “Cleft foot-Amanita” x x possibly poisonous Amanita cinereoconia var. cinereoconia "American Gray Dust Lepidella" x no information -best avoided Amanita citrina f. lavendula "Lavender-staining Citrina" x possibly poisonous Amanita citrina sensu auct. amer. "Citron Amanita," "False Death Cap" x possibly poisonous Amanita daucipes "Turnip-foot Amanita" x x possibly poisonous Amanita farinosa "Powdery-cap Amanita" x x x x unknown; not recommended Amanita flavoconia “Yellow Patches" x x x possibly poisonous Amanita gemmata complex "Gem-studded Amanita" x x possibly poisonous Amanita jacksonii syn. A. umbonata, syn. A. caesarea "American Caesar's Mushroom" x edible -with extreme caution!! Amanita muscaria var. guessowii syn. A. muscaria var. formosa "Yellow-orange Fly Agaric" x poisonous Amanita parcivolvata "Ringless False Fly Agaric" x x likely poisonous Amanita polypyramis "Plateful of Pyramids Lepidella" x x poisonous Amanita subcokeri Tulloss nom.
[Show full text]
Mycology Praha
f I VO LUM E 52 I / I [ 1— 1 DECEMBER 1999 M y c o l o g y l CZECH SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY FOR MYCOLOGY PRAHA J\AYCn nI .O §r%u v J -< M ^/\YC/-\ ISSN 0009-°476 n | .O r%o v J -< Vol. 52, No. 1, December 1999 CZECH MYCOLOGY ! formerly Česká mykologie published quarterly by the Czech Scientific Society for Mycology EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Cliief ; ZDENĚK POUZAR (Praha) ; Managing editor JAROSLAV KLÁN (Praha) j VLADIMÍR ANTONÍN (Brno) JIŘÍ KUNERT (Olomouc) ! OLGA FASSATIOVÁ (Praha) LUDMILA MARVANOVÁ (Brno) | ROSTISLAV FELLNER (Praha) PETR PIKÁLEK (Praha) ; ALEŠ LEBEDA (Olomouc) MIRKO SVRČEK (Praha) i Czech Mycology is an international scientific journal publishing papers in all aspects of 1 mycology. Publication in the journal is open to members of the Czech Scientific Society i for Mycology and non-members. | Contributions to: Czech Mycology, National Museum, Department of Mycology, Václavské 1 nám. 68, 115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic. Phone: 02/24497259 or 96151284 j SUBSCRIPTION. Annual subscription is Kč 350,- (including postage). The annual sub scription for abroad is US $86,- or DM 136,- (including postage). The annual member ship fee of the Czech Scientific Society for Mycology (Kč 270,- or US $60,- for foreigners) includes the journal without any other additional payment. For subscriptions, address changes, payment and further information please contact The Czech Scientific Society for ! Mycology, P.O.Box 106, 11121 Praha 1, Czech Republic. This journal is indexed or abstracted in: i Biological Abstracts, Abstracts of Mycology, Chemical Abstracts, Excerpta Medica, Bib liography of Systematic Mycology, Index of Fungi, Review of Plant Pathology, Veterinary Bulletin, CAB Abstracts, Rewicw of Medical and Veterinary Mycology.
[Show full text]
October 2013
MushRumors The Newsletter of the Northwest Mushroomers Association Volume 24, Issue 2 August - October 2013 Record Rainfalls Hit Washington! The Perfect Myco - Storm! In the aftermath of one of the most memorable spring mushroom seasons in recent memory, highlighted by perhaps the best morel onslaught ever before seen, the rains of June which led to these ideal conditions, yielded to what would be a warm, dry July and first half of August. Then it happened. Unlike last year, when Photo by Daniel Viney high pressure dominated Washington’s weather, dismissing any and all precipitation for a record 88 consecutive days, on August 10, 2013, a very unusual weather pattern produced intense thunderstorms all across the region, dousing both the eastern and western slopes of the Cascades and dumping nearly 6 inches of rain on some of the alpine passes. In addition to causing mudslides that would close some of the highways leading over those passes, the storms had another profound effect: fall mushrooms, which have not enjoyed any truly favorable conditions in our area’s high country since 2009, were awakened with a vengeance. Within a week of these storms, a full array of mushrooms King boletes, emerging in droves, in August! rarely seen at these elevations until late September, were in stunning abundance. King boletes, admirable boletes, gypsy mushrooms, and shrimp russulas fruited in staggering numbers. As a result of temperatures holding into the mid- 70s, the only real challenge was getting to the boletes before the worms could devour them. The heat greatly accelerated the life cycle of the offending flies.
[Show full text]
How to Distinguish Amanita Smithiana from Matsutake and Catathelasma Species
VOLUME 57: 1 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 www.namyco.org How to Distinguish Amanita smithiana from Matsutake and Catathelasma species By Michael W. Beug: Chair, NAMA Toxicology Committee A recent rash of mushroom poisonings involving liver failure in Oregon prompted Michael Beug to issue the following photos and information on distinguishing the differences between the toxic Amanita smithiana and edible Matsutake and Catathelasma. Distinguishing the choice edible Amanita smithiana Amanita smithiana Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare) from the highly poisonous Amanita smithiana is best done by laying the stipe (stem) of the mushroom in the palm of your hand and then squeezing down on the stipe with your thumb, applying as much pressure as you can. Amanita smithiana is very firm but if you squeeze hard, the stipe will shatter. Matsutake The stipe of the Matsutake is much denser and will not shatter (unless it is riddled with insect larvae and is no longer in good edible condition). There are other important differences. The flesh of Matsutake peels or shreds like string cheese. Also, the stipe of the Matsutake is widest near the gills Matsutake and tapers gradually to a point while the stipe of Amanita smithiana tends to be bulbous and is usually widest right at ground level. The partial veil and ring of a Matsutake is membranous while the partial veil and ring of Amanita smithiana is powdery and readily flocculates into small pieces (often disappearing entirely). For most people the difference in odor is very distinctive. Most collections of Amanita smithiana have a bleach-like odor while Matsutake has a distinctive smell of old gym socks and cinnamon redhots (however, not all people can distinguish the odors).
[Show full text]
Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection
Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection * Rochester Public Library Reference Book Not for Circulation Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection 3099648 5 Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection PROCEEDINGS OF THE Rochester Academy of Science Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection PROCEEDINGS , 11 OF THE Rochester Academy of Science.t^iuzz*, \ VOLUME 5 June, 1910, to December, 1918 Rochester, N. Y. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY 1919 Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Serials Collection OFFICERS OF THE ACADEMY. 1911-1918. ' Charles T. Howard, 1911. Victor J. Chambers, 1912-1914. Florus R. Baxter, 1915-1917. President, ) George H. Chadwick, 1918. Herman L. Fairchild, 1918. George L. English, 1919. [ Florus R. Baxter, 1911-1914, 1919. First Vice-president, . J Victor J. Chambers, 1915-1916. [ Ivan C. Jaggar, 1917-1918. ' William Streeter, 1911. Frank A. Stecher, 1912. Second Vice-president, J Lucius L. Button, 1913-1916. Victor J. Chambers, 1917-1918. J. L. Roseboom, 1919. Gilbert S. Dey, 1911. Charles W. Hennington, 1912. Harrison E. Howe, 1913-1914. Secretary, J< | George H. Chadwick, 1915-1917. Cogswell Bentley, 1918. Harold L. Alling, 1919. Corresponding Secretary, j William D. Merrell, 1911-1919. Rudolph Schmidt, 1911-1915. Treasurer, { George Wendt, 1916-1919. Herman K. Phinney, 1911-1916. Librarian, { Alice H. Brown, 1917-1919. COUNCILLORS.COUN< Florence Beckwith, 1911-1919. George Wendt, 1914-1915. Herman L. Fairchild, 1911-1919.
[Show full text]
Report of the State Botanist 1911
STATE OF NEW YORK EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Regents of tM University WIth years when terms expIre 1913 WHITELAW REID M.A. LL.D. D.C.L. Chancellor. New York 1917 ST CLAIR McKELWAY M.A. LL.D. Vice Chan- cellor .... ~. BrookJyn 1919 DANIEL BEACH Ph.D. LL.D.' ...... Watkins 1914 PLINY T. SEX'l'ON LL.R LL.D. ..... Palmyra 191$ ALBERT VANDER VEER M.D. M.A. Ph.D. LL.D. Albany 1922 CHESTER S. LORD M.A. LL.D.. .. New York 1918 WILLIAM NOTTINGHAM M.A. Ph.D. LL.D. Syracuse 1920, EUGENE A. PHILBIN LL.B. LL.D. New York 1916 LUCIUS N. LITTAUER B.A. Gloversville 192 I FRANCIS M. CARPENTER . Mount Kisco . 1923 ABRAM 1. ELKUS LL.B. New York 1924 ADELBERT MOOT . Buffalo Commissioner of Education ANDREW S. DRAPER LL.B. LL;D. Assistant COnunEsloners AUGUSTUS S. DOWNING 'M.A. L.H.D. LL.D. First/Assistant CHARLES F. WHEELOCK B.S. LL.D. Second Assistant· THOMAS E. FINEGAN M.A. Pd.D. LL.D. Thi.rd Assistant Dire,ctor of State Library JAMES r. WYER, JR, M.L.S. Dire~tot of Science and State Museulll JOHN M. CLARKE Ph.D. D.Sc. LL.D. Chiefs of Divisions Administratio!l, GEORGE M. WILEY M.A. Attendanc¢" JAMES D. SULLIVAN .. " ' Educational Extension, WILLIAM. R. EASTMAN M.A. M.L.S. Examinations, HARL~NH. HORNERJ3.A. History, JAMES A. HOLDEN B.A. Inspections, FRANK H. WOOD M.A. Law, FRANK B. GILBERT B.A. Libr:,u-.YSchool, FRANK K. WALTER M.A.,B.L.S. Public Records, THOMAS C.
[Show full text]
FUNGI of the SAND PRAIRIE-SCRUB OAK NATURE PRESERVE Illinois Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund 1993-1994 Small Project Program Report
0 FUNGI OF THE SAND PRAIRIE-SCRUB OAK NATURE PRESERVE Illinois Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund 1993-1994 Small Project Program Report August 10, 1994 0 Dr . Andrew S . Methven Botany Department . Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL 61920 Introduction The vegetation found in the Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature Preserve (nine miles south of Havana, between Bath and Kilbourne, Sec . 23 and parts of Secs . 14 and 26, T20N, R9W', 3PM, Mason Co) is a mosaic of three unique vascular plant communities - sand prairie, savanna, and closed forest . The closed forests in the preserve are dominated by a stable community of shade intolerant trees including black oak (Quercus velutina), blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), black hickory, (Carya texana), and mockernut hickory (Carya tanentosa) which thrive under xeric conditions in acidic, sandy soils . Despite the number of floristic and ecological studies completed to date on these closed forests, there has been little effort to catalog the fungi which occur in these habitats and assess their ecological role in the maintenance and preservation of the forest . Although the importance of saprobic fungi as agents of decomposition and nutrient recycling is well-established, the role of fungi as mycorrhizal associates with vascular plants has only recently begun to be assessed and understood . Mycorrhizae are unique symbiotic associations which form between fungal hyphae and the roots of vascular plants . Since the fungal hyphae penetrate the soil to a mach greater extent than roots, they have a greater surface area in contact with soil moisture and nutrients than vascular plants . As such, the fungal hyphae facilitate the uptake of water and nutrients from the soil and transport to the plant host .
[Show full text]
Introduction to Dean Fungi
An Introduction to Fungi Forest of Dean Fungus Group 1 First edition 2004 Revised edition 2017 © Dean Fungus Group 2004 and 2017 Cover photo: Geastrum triplex, the Common Earthstar An Introduction to the Mysterious World of Fungi Figure 1 Hygrocybe calyptraeformis - the Ballerina Mushrooms and toadstools have always been a mystery to man. So many myths have been attached to them in the past that even today they still carry with them a hint of the occult. It is hoped that this brief presentation will dispel some of those myths and show fungi for what they are: a vital component of the natural world and nature's most efficient recycling machine. Most of us are familiar with the notion of three Kingdoms under which all the things found on earth are categorised as animal, vegetable or mineral. For a long time fungi were classed with vegetables, but over the past 200 years the scientific study of fungi has shown that although there are similarities between fungi and vegetables, the differences between them are so numerous that fungi should be placed in a Kingdom of their own. The most important difference is that fungi do not rely on chlorophyll (the green substance which gives leaves their characteristic colour) to help them produce their food. With the aid of chlorophyll and sunlight plants convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into starch and sugar, major items in a plant's diet. Sunlight is therefore essential to the growth of plants. Fungi, on the other hand, need neither chlorophyll nor sunlight, but like animals, obtain their food by absorption of nutrients, and need a ready supply of pre-existing organic matter.
[Show full text]