How do plants like mushrooms that don't perform photosynthesis... uh... work? Where do they get their energy, how do they take in the carbon they need to grow?
Fungi are weird things, but plants they're not. The Fungi (singular fungus) are a kingdom of eukaryotic organisms. They are heterotrophic and digest their food externally, absorbing nutrient molecules into their cells. Yeasts, molds, and mushrooms are examples of fungi. The branch of biology involving the study of fungi is known as mycology. (Wikipedia)
So you're saying that all true "plants" perform photosynthesis? They all contain chlorophyll, inspire carbon dioxide and expire oxygen? And all fungi are scavengers or parasites? As for silicon-based life, there's a long thread on that topic in another subforum. Check it out. Most scientists would say something like, "Well, it's theoretically possible, but we haven't got any way to test that theory."
There are true plants that are not photosynthetic - usually they are parasitic on other plants, stealing the products of photosynthesis that the leaves of those plants are sending to the stem and roots. The flower called "Indian Pipe", say. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotropa_uniflora You find them, for example, in the deep shade of pine trees in the northern woods, where photosynthesis of their own would be difficult anyway. Some fungi are symbionts with algae, the combinations of their respective capabilities forming complexes capable of living in sunlight on bare rock.
Yes, well no. Fungi are thought to be more closely related to animals than to plants. But fungi can be parasitic. . . and they can be beneficial. In some trees they act as communication networks. on some people they create athletes foot. In some mixtures they create beer. I don't think any of them use photosynthesis directly though. . . cyanobacter do though.
Cyanobacter are bacteria of course. A heterotrophic lifestyle is characteristic to fungi, thus there are no photosynthetic species. (this essentially was already mentioned earlier, just had to comment on cyanosPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image! ).
