Quiz: Are you a fungus geek?

Do you know your lichens from your mycelium, and your stinkhorns from your zombie fungus?

Have a go at the following 15 questions to test your fungal knowledge. See the answers at the bottom of the page to find out if you're a fungi expert or amateur...

2. How many dried specimens does our Fungarium at Kew hold?

A. 10,000

B. 88,000

C. 450,000

D. 1.25 million

4. Which of the following fungi is used to make beer?

A. Horse mushroom (Agaricus arvensis)

B. Fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe)

C. Velvet shank (Flammulina velutipes)

D. Oakbug milkcap (Lactarius quietus)

6. In the world of fungi, what is mycelium?

A. The habitat in which a fungus grows

B. Another name for fungal spores

C. The underground part of a fungus, made up of a network of filaments (hyphae)

D. The collective term for winter-fruiting fungi

8. Name the fungus in the picture below.

A. Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica)

B. Ash dieback fungus (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus)

C. Leaf-cutting ant fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus)

D. Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)

10. Penicillin comes from fungi. When did Alexander Fleming first discover this antibiotic?

A. 1980

B. 1859

C. 1901

D. 1928

12. Where does the zombie fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) get its name?

A. It grows inside the bodies of insect hosts and takes over their behaviour

B. It oozes a substance that looks like blue blood

C. It smells like rotting flesh

D. It looks like a dead beetle

14. Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) is an example of which type of fungus?

A. Cup fungus

B. Bolete fungus

C. Jelly fungus

D. Bracket fungus

Answers

1. Name the fungus in the picture below.

B. Common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)

Witness fungi season at Wakehurst

2. How many dried specimens does our Fungarium at Kew hold?

D. 1.25 million

Learn more about our amazing Fungarium

3. What is a saprotrophic fungus?

A. One that feeds on dead and decaying matter

Discover some saprotrophic fungi growing at Kew

4. Which of the following fungi is used to make beer?

B. Fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe)

Find out more about this fascinating fungus

5. King Alfred’s cakes (Daldinia concentrica) can do what?

A. Act as a firelighter

Read more about this firestarting fungus

6. In the world of fungi, what is mycelium?

C. The underground part of a fungus, made up of a network of filaments (hyphae)

Swot up on more fungal facts

7. What is the common name of the fungus Xylaria polymorpha?

C. Dead man’s fingers

Unearth more spooky fungi

8. Name the fungus in the picture below.

D. Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Watch our film on how to spot fungi

9. The lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis got its common name because it looks like what?

B. Chewing gum

Learn more about chewing gum lichen

10. Penicillin comes from fungi. When did Alexander Fleming first discover this antibiotic?

D. 1928

Discover the secret fungi in everyday life

11. Auricularia auricula-judae in the picture below is also known as what?

C. Jelly ear

Watch our animation on why fungi matter to all of us

12. Where does the zombie fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) get its name?

A. It grows inside the bodies of insect hosts and takes over their behaviour

Geek out on more creepy plants and fungi

13. How does fairy ring champignon (Marasmius oreades) grow?

C. In circles in grassy areas

See fairy ring champignon at Kew

14. Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) is an example of which type of fungus?

D. Bracket fungus

Find out the facts on this distinctive fungus

15. When mature, what does the octopus stinkhorn (Clathrus archeri) smell like?

B. Rotting flesh

Learn about this plant that also smells of rotting flesh