Fungi

A division of eukaryotic organisms that grow in irregular masses, without roots, stems, or leaves, and are devoid of chlorophyll or other pigments capable of photosynthesis. Each organism (thallus) is unicellular to filamentous, and possesses branched somatic structures (hyphae) surrounded by cell walls containing glucan or chitin or both, and containing true nuclei. They reproduce sexually or asexually (spore formation), and may obtain nutrition from other living organisms as parasites or from dead organic matter as saprobes (saprophytes). [L. fungus, a mushroom]

* * *

Fun·gi 'fən-.jīalso 'fən-gī n pl a kingdom of living things comprising the fungi

* * *

Fun·gi (funґji) [L.] in the classification of living organisms, a kingdom of eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms that live as saprobes or parasites; it includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. They lack chlorophyll, have a cell wall composed of polysaccharides, sometimes polypeptides, and chitin, reproduce either sexually or asexually, and have a life cycle that ranges from simple to complex. The thallus is unicellular or mycelial; aseptate, partially septate, or septate; and nonmotile. Fruiting bodies range from microscopic hyphae in yeasts to large, complex structures showing limited and reversible tissue differentiation (as in mushrooms). In some systems of classification, the Fungi have been considered a subdivision of the plant kingdom. Several different classification systems for the Fungi have been devised; for example, some authorities use the term phylum and others use division for the level just below kingdom.