spore & hypha

Description:

Fungal spore / hyphae The most evident structure for most fungi is the spore bearing element - the mushrooms of terrestrial fungi. However, the defining character of fungi are the hyphae . Hyphae are cylindrical, branching tubes in which the cytoplasm of the fungus lives. The walls are organic, in true fungi they are mostly chitinous. Food is absorbed through the walls. A spore (two are shown here) settles, the hyphae begin to grow, branching and growing outwards. the cytoplasm tends to migrate to the growing tips of the fungi - and interconnected hyphae may extend over many metres - indeed leading some to suggest that fungi are the largest organisms on earth. Phase contrast.