Mushrooms are fungi, a group of organisms that also includes yeasts, molds, and mildews — species that can thrive in shadow and the forgotten corners of your pantry.
And while many fungi actually live in sunny spots, they don't need light in the same way that plants do.
Unlike plants, fungi don't photosynthesize — they don't use chlorophyll to convert light into chemical energy.
Light, then, isn't their primary source of food or energy.
So what is a mushroom's source of energy?
Generally, the answer is organic matter.
Mushrooms are heterotrophs, meaning they get their nutrients from other organisms instead of producing their own food.
In this way, mushrooms are one step up the food chain from plants.
Mushrooms secure their food by secreting enzymes into the surface they're growing on, whether that's a tree or the forest floor or elsewhere.
The enzymes digest the food, which is then absorbed through the cell walls.
