The structure
of fungi
The most common type of fruiting body is that of the typical gilled mushroom whose structure consists of a cap, gills, and usually a stalk. A veil (protective covering) is also present on many gilled mushrooms. When present the veil frequently forms a ring (annulus) near the apex of the stalk and/or a volva at the base of the stalk when it ruptures (Arora, 4).
The bodies of most fungi are composed of tiny filaments called hyphae that form a dense interwoven mat called a mycelium that serves as the “feeding” network for the fungus. This nutritionally active structure of most fungi typically goes undetected for the simple fact that most are subterranean and / or they are diffusely organized around and within the tissues of their food sources. The filamentous nature of the hyphae suits the absorptive nature of fungi owing to the fact that it affords the mycelium an extensive surface area in which to interface with surrounding mediums (Campbell, 617). Fungal mycelium can add as much as one kilometer of hyphae each day as it grows through its food source. All of the fungus’s energy and resources goes into adding hyphal length as opposed to increasing girth thereby increasing overall absorptive surface area (Campbell, 618).
Even though the fungal filaments (hyphae) are microscopic, some species of fungi produce individuals that are comparable to the largest plants and animals in terms of mass (Tree of Life, http://tolweb.org/tree?group=fungi).
Works Cited
Arora, David. Mushrooms Demystified. 2nd ed. Berkley, Ten Speed Press, 1986.
Campbell, Neil A. Biology. 4th ed. Menlo Park: The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing
Company, 1996.
Tree of Life Web Project. 2006. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences and The University of Arizona Library. 21 April 2006.
<http://tolweb.org/tree/>