This is a list of the lists of
fungal taxa as recorded from
South Africa. Names given are as provided by the source, but authorities and dates should be aligned with current practice where feasible. Currently accepted names have been appended where the listed name is out of date.
A fungus (
plural: fungi[1] or funguses[2]) is any member of the group of
eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as
yeasts and
molds, as well as the more familiar
mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a
kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, those being
Plantae,
Animalia,
Protozoa, and
Chromista.
A characteristic that places fungi in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protists is
chitin in their
cell walls. Fungi, like animals, are
heterotrophs; they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting
digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not
photosynthesize. Growth is their means of
mobility, except for
spores (a few of which are
flagellated), which may travel through the air or water. Fungi are the principal
decomposers in ecological systems. These and other differences place fungi in a single group of related organisms, named the Eumycota (true fungi or Eumycetes), which share a
common ancestor (from a monophyletic group), an interpretation that is also strongly supported by
molecular phylogenetics. This fungal group is distinct from the structurally similar
myxomycetes (slime molds) and
oomycetes (water molds). The discipline of
biology devoted to the study of fungi is known as
mycology (from the
Greek μύκης mykes, mushroom). In the past, mycology was regarded as a branch of
botany, although it is now known fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than to plants.
Abundant worldwide, most fungi are inconspicuous because of the small size of their structures, and their
cryptic lifestyles in soil or on dead matter. Fungi include
symbionts of plants, animals, or other fungi and also
parasites. They may become noticeable when
fruiting, either as mushrooms or as molds. Fungi perform an essential role in the decomposition of organic matter and have fundamental roles in nutrient
cycling and exchange in the environment. They have long been used as a direct source of human food, in the form of mushrooms and
truffles; as a
leavening agent for bread; and in the
fermentation of various food products, such as
wine,
beer, and
soy sauce. Since the 1940s, fungi have been used for the production of
antibiotics, and, more recently, various
enzymes produced by fungi are used
industrially and in
detergents. Fungi are also used as
biological pesticides to control weeds, plant diseases and insect pests. Many species produce
bioactive compounds called
mycotoxins, such as
alkaloids and
polyketides, that are toxic to animals including humans. The fruiting structures of a few species contain
psychotropic compounds and are consumed
recreationally or in traditional
spiritual ceremonies. Fungi can break down manufactured materials and buildings, and become significant
pathogens of humans and other animals. Losses of crops due to fungal diseases (e.g.,
rice blast disease) or food
spoilage can have a large impact on human
food supplies and local economies.
The fungus kingdom encompasses an enormous diversity of
taxa with varied ecologies,
life cycle strategies, and
morphologies ranging from unicellular aquatic
chytrids to large mushrooms. However, little is known of the true
biodiversity of Kingdom Fungi, which has been estimated at 2.2 million to 3.8 million species.[3] Of these, only about 148,000 have been described,[4] with over 8,000 species known to be detrimental to plants and at least 300 that can be pathogenic to humans.[5] Ever since the pioneering 18th and 19th century
taxonomical works of
Carl Linnaeus,
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and
Elias Magnus Fries, fungi have been
classified according to their morphology (e.g., characteristics such as spore color or microscopic features) or
physiology. Advances in
molecular genetics have opened the way for
DNA analysis to be incorporated into taxonomy, which has sometimes challenged the historical groupings based on morphology and other traits.
Phylogenetic studies published in the first decade of the 21st century have helped reshape the classification within Kingdom Fungi, which is divided into one
subkingdom, seven
phyla, and ten subphyla.
^/ˈfʌndʒaɪ/ⓘ, /ˈfʌŋɡaɪ/ⓘ, /ˈfʌŋɡi/ⓘ or /ˈfʌndʒi/ⓘ. The first two pronunciations are favored more in the US and the others in the UK, however all pronunciations can be heard in any English-speaking country.
^"Fungus". Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from
the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2011.