Fungi are a diverse, fascinating kingdom of organisms that live by metabolizing organic material. Fungi encompass a range of essential activities including decomposition, fermentation, and symbiosis. They are considered to be inter-connective forces that bridge spiritual and material realms, holding a key role in the functioning of Earth’s ecosystems. They provide us with some of humankind’s most significant resources, from food to medicine, and are integral to sustaining healthy soils, forests, and watersheds. Fungi have an ancient, vast, and well-documented history, which adds layers of myth and metaphor to amplify the way we understand our relationship with the natural world.

See also: mycorrhizal fungi, tissue disease, root system, mycelium, ecology