Introduction to Fungi
What are fungi? See other topics in links in side menu.
Scientific Classification
This is a system of placing species into groups based on the evidence available for how they are related. The hierarchy for these groups is shown below. Each level above that of Genus has an ending that designates that level within the system of botanical nomenclature though these differ between plants and fungi. The totally separate system of zoological nomenclature does not use defined endings. Between fungi and animals there is an overlap in some names: the genus Lactarius can refer to milk mushrooms or the false trevally fish.
| Level | Half-free Morel | Chicken Mushroom | White Oak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain | Eukaryota | Eukaryota | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Fungi | Fungi | Plantae |
| Subkingdom | Dikarya | Dikarya | Tracheobionta |
| Superdivision | not used | not used | Spermatophyta |
| Phylum / Division | Ascomycota | Basidiomycota | Magnoliophyta |
| Subphylum | Pezizomycotina | Agaricomycotina | not used |
| Class | Pezizomycetes | Agaricomycetes | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass | Pezizomycetidae | Incertae sedis | Hamamelididae |
| Order | Pezizales | Polyporales | Fagales |
| Family | Morchellaceae | Laetiporaceae | Fagaceae |
| Genus | Morchella Dill. ex Pers. | Laetiporus Murrill | Quercus L. |
| Species | M. punctipes Peck | L. sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill | Q. alba L. |
Phylum is also known as Division. Those levels shown shaded are ones added above or below the major levels and are not used on this website. The term Incertae sedis (Latin for "of uncertain placement") means the relationships are unknown or undefined at that level.
For classification above Kingdom Fungi see the Wikipedia article on Holomycota: Eukaryota => Unikonta => Opisthokonta => Holomycota => Fungi.