Fungi
Fungi are important organisms that belong to their own kingdom, completely separate from plants and animals.
Find out about the diverse range of fungi - from the familiar mushrooms we buy in shops and see in fields, to coral fungi, Penicillium, yeasts, crop-destroying rusts and smuts, and much more!
All about fungi
Fungi are a hugely diverse group of great economic importance, yet remain vastly under-studied compared to plants.
It is estimated that there may be 700,000-5 million species of fungi in the world!
Even using the most widely cited estimate of 1.5 million, this makes fungi more than six times as diverse as flowering plants. Yet only about 100,000 species have so far been described.
Behind-the-scenes: Kew's Fungarium
This film goes behind-the-scenes of Kew's Fungarium, which holds around 1.25 million specimens making it the largest collection of dried fungi in the world.
The fascinating world of fungi
Puffballs, stinkhorns, truffles, morels and tree brackets... browse photos of the weird and wonderful species of fungi in our image gallery below.
Plant-fungal relationships
Plants and fungi engage in intimate relationships that range from harmful to beneficial.
The most important of these mutually beneficial relationships is called mycorriza where fungi live on and in the plant’s roots.
Both plant and fungi will depend on this relationship to develop and survive.
Follow Kew
Keep up to date with events and news from Kew
