Fungi are not autotrophs like plants. They do not make their own food. No, fungi are heterotrophs, which means their food has to be digested and absorbed (like in animals, although, clearly, only in this respect!). Fungi perform Extracellular digestion. Their enzymes are secreted outside of their body. The enzymes digest the large and insoluble organic molecules (eg wood) into small and soluble ones like glucose. This can be absorbed into the body and assimilated into more complex materials for growth such as proteins. Hence fungi are found growing through their food source, eg a tree stump.
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