Plant vs Fungus: Why a Mushroom Is Not a Plant
Mushrooms grow out of the ground and stay in one place, so they look like plants, but they are not. A plant makes its own food from sunlight. A fungus cannot: it feeds by breaking down other things and soaking up the food. Fungi are actually more closely related to animals than to plants.
Plant vs fungus at a glance
| Plant | Fungus | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Makes its own by photosynthesis | Absorbs food from what it grows on |
| Green chlorophyll | Yes | No |
| Cell walls | Cellulose | Chitin, the same material as insect shells |
| Stores energy as | Starch | Glycogen, like animals |
| Spreads by | Seeds or spores | Spores |
| Main body | Stem, leaves and roots | A web of threads called mycelium, mostly hidden |
| Closest relatives | Green algae | Animals |
The mushroom is the tip of the iceberg
The mushroom you see is just the fruiting body, the part that releases spores. The real fungus is a mass of fine threads, called mycelium, spreading through the soil or a log. Some mycelium networks cover huge areas: a honey fungus in Oregon, USA, spreads under almost 10 square kilometres of forest.
Why fungi matter
Fungi are the great recyclers. They break down dead leaves, wood and animals, returning nutrients to the soil. Many trees and plants depend on fungi in their roots to get water and minerals, swapping sugar for them. Fungi also give us bread, cheese and antibiotics such as penicillin.
Quick facts
- Yeast, moulds and mushrooms are all fungi.
- A single mushroom can release millions or even billions of spores.
- Penicillin was discovered from a mould in 1928.
- Some fungi glow in the dark.
- Never eat wild mushrooms unless an expert has identified them: some are deadly.
Look inside both
Plant vs fungus questions
Is a mushroom a plant?
No. A mushroom is the fruiting body of a fungus. Fungi cannot make their own food and are a separate kingdom of life.
Are fungi closer to plants or animals?
To animals. Fungi and animals share a common ancestor that is more recent than either’s link to plants.
Do fungi photosynthesise?
No. They have no chlorophyll and feed by absorbing food from their surroundings.
What are fungal cell walls made of?
Chitin, the same material found in insect shells. Plant cell walls are made of cellulose.
How do fungi reproduce?
Mainly by releasing tiny spores, which can travel on the wind or water.
More face-offs: see all 3D comparisons.
The 3D Plant Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.