What is Fungi?

Fungi are a group of organisms and micro-organisms that are classified within their own kingdom, the fungal kingdom, as they are neither plant nor animal. Fungi draw their nutrition from decaying organic matter, living plants and even animals. They do not photosynthesize as they totally lack the green pigment chlorophyll, present in green plants. Many play an important role in the natural cycle as decomposers and return nutrients to the soil, they are not all destructive. Fungi are even used for medical purposes, such as species within the penicillium genus which provide antibiotics, e.g. penicillin.

Penicillium notatum is a species of fungus that was used as the original source of the antibiotic penicillin.

Species within the genus Penicillium produce flavours for blue and white cheeses, such as Gorgonzola.