Why Fungi Are Classified Separately From Plants

Discover why fungi are not classified as plants, including key differences in nutrition, cell structure, and biological kingdom.

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Fungi are not plants because they lack chlorophyll and do not perform photosynthesis. Instead, fungi absorb nutrients from organic matter. Additionally, their cell walls contain chitin, not cellulose, which is found in plant cell walls. This fundamental difference places fungi in a separate biological kingdom.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What are the main differences between fungi and plants? Fungi lack chlorophyll, do not perform photosynthesis, and have cell walls made of chitin instead of cellulose found in plants.
  2. Why are fungi placed in a separate biological kingdom? Fungi belong to a separate kingdom due to fundamental differences in their structure, nutrition, and reproductive methods.
  3. Can fungi photosynthesize like plants? No, fungi cannot photosynthesize because they do not contain chlorophyll.
  4. What do fungi eat? Fungi absorb nutrients from organic matter, such as decaying plants and animals.