A fungus (plural fungi) was a type of lifeform. Fungi were described as the only organisms with the biological aptitude to link death with life. Although they diverted from the animal kingdom six hundred million years ago, they still shared over half of their DNA with Homo sapiens. (DIS: "The Wolf Inside", "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry")
The leola root was a dark yellow root vegetable native to the Delta Quadrant that was covered in mildew (a variety of fungus). (VOY: "State of Flux")
Ledonian soil contained mycorrhizal fungus that helped plants to retain water. (DS9: "The Wire")
In 2246, an exotic fungus destroyed most of Tarsus IV's food supply. (TOS: "The Conscience of the King")
In 2373, the Pah-wraith possessing Keiko O'Brien claimed she had seen some beautiful and botanically fascinating fungi in the Fire Caves, but no Pah-wraiths. (DS9: "The Assignment")
That same year, when the USS Defiant approached the planet Gaia, Captain Benjamin Sisko said that he wasn't beaming down if they only detected some fungus and Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax quipped "What if it's smart fungus?" (DS9: "Children of Time")
During their attempt to teach an infant Changeling how to shapeshift, Doctor Mora suggested that he and Odo expose the Changeling to simple lifeforms such as algae, fungi, and finally invertebrates. (DS9: "The Begotten")
Tri-nucleic fungus could be used to manufacture ketracel-white. (DS9: "Statistical Probabilities")
Types of fungi
- Amanita muscaria
- Fluvian fungus
- Matopin rock fungus
- Mildew
- Mold
- Mushroom
- Mycorrhizal fungus
- Prototaxites stellaviatori
- Seltin wood fungus
- Sleeger fungus
- Tri-nucleic fungus