As we know, Yunnan is a kingdom of wild fungi (真菌) that can be eaten. But do you know that fungi play an important role in environment? And they are a source (来源) of food and medicine. But w do we know little about them?
About two million kinds of fungi-more than 90% of all-have yet to be (describe) by science, according to Rebecca Morelle, a science reporter for the BBC. In the UK alone, there are thought to be around 25, 000 kinds of fungi -five or six (time) more than plants. Scientists are trying to find out more about this largely unknown world, but it is challenging. Dr Martyn Ainsworth, a senior researcher from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, says, "We can grow a c number in the lab, but there are a lot of fungi we cannot grow in the lab. This has (hold) back our research. "
The fact that we know so little about fungi l many of us to misunderstand them. A lot of people are a of fungi. But only a very small percent of fungi in the world can c disease. Most are harmless, called by some "the hidden helpers of our environment". Some fungi provide food and shelter (庇护处) wildlife, help plants take in water and nutrients (营养) and recycle (回收利用) waste and dead matter. O fungi grow on the roots of trees and plants, forming a huge underground network that helps trees to grow. Fungi are really the behind-the-scenes team that are doing all the work.
So, next time you add mushrooms to your dinner, take a painkiller for a headache, or go for a walk through the woods, remember to thank the living things that make it all possible- fungi.
