Mushrooms, the guests at our tables, have you ever wondered what kind of creature it belongs to? You may know that it is a fungus, but have you ever thought that it is a plant? Let's explore the mysteries of mushrooms.
First, let's clarify the classification of mushrooms. Mushrooms belong to the kingdom of fungi and are a type of fungus. Fungi are a type of organism that ranks among the three major kingdoms of the biological kingdom alongside plants and animals. Fungi are characterized by the absence of chloroplasts in their bodies and their inability to photosynthesize, they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter.
So why is there a misconception that mushrooms are plants? This is because mushrooms look like plants, they grow in the soil, and sometimes they are mistaken for plants. However, from a biological point of view, mushrooms are very different from plants. Plants obtain energy through photosynthesis, while mushrooms obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter.
Let's use a simple example to help understand the difference between mushrooms and plants. Imagine that you see a "tree" in the forest. The "tree" is so leafy that it looks like the trees around it. However, when you look closely, you will see that the branches and leaves of this "tree" do not have green chlorophyll, and its "roots" do not penetrate deep into the soil, but spread on the ground. This "tree" is actually a huge mushroom, its "branches and leaves" are actually the cap, and its "roots" are actually mycelium. This is the significant difference between a mushroom and a plant.
Although mushrooms are not plants, they play an important role in the ecosystem. Mushrooms are decomposers who provide nutrients to plants by absorbing organic matter, breaking it down into inorganic matter. Without a decomposer like mushrooms, plants would not be able to obtain nutrients and ecosystems would not be able to sustain themselves.
At the end of the article, let's answer an interesting question:
Why do mushrooms grow better in moist places?
This is because mushrooms do not have a root system to absorb water, and they need the humidity of their surroundings to retain moisture. As a result, in a humid place, mushrooms are able to grow better.
To sum up, although mushrooms are similar in appearance to plants, they are actually fungi that are very different from plants. Mushrooms play an important role in the ecosystem, acting as decomposers and providing nutrients to plants. We should properly recognize mushrooms and appreciate their unique charm.