fungi

"Plants and fungi can be weird. Did you know some plants can bleed? Or eat meat? In [this book], readers will explore the science behind plants and fungi"--Provided by publisher.

Plants and fungi can be weird. Did you know some plants can bleed? Or eat meat? In Weird Science: Plants and Fungi, readers will explore the science behind plants and fungi. This high-interest series is written at a low readability to aid struggling readers. Educational sidebars include a science activity, a spotlight biography, fast facts, and an unsolved mystery! A table of contents, glossary of keywords, index, and author biography are included.

Profiles fifteen plants and fungi with life-changing effects, revealing their stories and providing step-by-step instructions for growing and caring for each one.

It is easy to be grossed out by fungi or worry about its impact on our health. While both are valid concerns, fungi and mold are actually important to our everyday lives. Like bacteria, fungi exist almost everywhere on the planet. They are hardy organisms the thrive in places you might not expect. Also like bacteria, they are essential in the breakdown of dead and decaying matter. One important group of fungi that does this is known as saprophytes. These fungi use decaying matter for nourishment, and without them breaking down organic matter throughout the environment, life on Earth would be quite different. Without fungi, the world we know could not exist.

Microbes are everywhere! They live on and under the ground. They live in all kinds of water on Earth, even around the hottest deep-sea vents. They even live on and inside your body! Since the advent of powerful microscopes, scientists have been studying our world's smallest denizens. Many people get scared just hearing the words "bacteria," "fungus," and "virus" because of the diseases they cause. However, scientists have discovered many beneficial microbes that actually help support all life on Earth. Geneticists have sequenced the genomes of numerous microbes, extending our knowledge of the organisms and how they affect our lives.

"Beneath the forest floor, drifting through the air, and growing inside other living things, fungi are everywhere. Fungi break down waste and help plants and animals grow, but they can also destroy buildings and turn ants into zombies! From tiny microbes to the largest living thing, this is a world of strange shapes, magical colors, and fascinating science"--Back cover.

"Readers will discover that trees have their own social network, and helping one another thrive is trending . . . a seedling, newly sprouted at the base of a giant tree . . . stretches its roots into an underground web of fungi, it learns that its fellow trees use the fungi to pass messages and share resources! It will take great luck for this tiny seedling to survive, but it will have help from its friends in the forest"--Provided by publisher.

Text and illustrations introduce the reader to the world of fungi.

Through an up-close view under a microscope, this book examines fungi, discussing what they are, where they can be found, the good and bad kinds, and what they can be used for.

Examines the four major groups of fungi -- yeasts, toadstools, chytrids, and bread molds. Highlights key characteristics of fungi, such as spore production, fungi's need to feed, and their use of long, branching cells known as hyphae to absorb nutrients from the environment. Includes case histories involving fungi, such as penicillin and the fight against disease, and genetically modified (GM) products in food technology. Includes color photographs, a glossary, and sources of further information.