There’s a fungus among us! Or, to be more formal, there are many fungi within our vicinity! Fungi are as much a part of our everyday life as the air we breathe. One of the most common and recognizable types of fungi are mushrooms. Some of these are edible and others can do us great harm if we ingest them. But the fungus kingdom reaches far and wide and encompasses many types of fungus beyond the world famous toadstool. But before we discuss them, let’s take a minute to discuss what fits the bill when it comes to what we call a fungus.
What is a Fungus?
But what is a fungus? If it’s not a mushroom how can we possibly know it when we see it? It’s actually not that difficult. Have you ever had bread? White bread? Wheat bread? Of course you have. Bread is created by way of a reaction from yeast, which is a common form of fungi that is used in food production. And speaking of bread, who hasn’t witnessed what happens when bread is left out on a counter for far too long?
Dark blotches start to appear on it and they spread across every single inch of the bread slice. This is an example of fungi doing what they have done since their inception. This is another useful arena in which fungi excel. Aside from being useful in aspects of food production, they also assist with decomposing matter.
Not All Fungi are Created Equal
Some fungi are no good for us, however. As previously mentioned, not every mushroom falls into the edible category. This is why it’s not safe to eat random mushrooms that you find littered along the ground. You may get away with it once or even a thousand times but it is best not to gamble in such a way. Some of these wild mushrooms can go beyond actually making you sick and can be fatal.
And the same mold that grows on bread if you leave it out can also grow on your ceiling or even in areas of your house you don’t see daily. If this happens, it can be inhaled by you and others in the house and it can lead to illness over time. This can occur if you have a roof leak that you may not be aware of. Fungi known as mildew can form of clothing that isn’t dried properly and cause it to have an odor.
Fungi Everywhere!
As you can see, fungi are a big part of our world. They are a part of our food production and can even serve less desirable aspects of our world. Regardless of what purpose or detriment they serve us, we must share our planet with them. Fungi has healed us by way of penicillin and it has fed us by way of cheese. Fungi is an important part of our life cycle and world.