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Fungus makes fake flowers - 8th March 2021

Fungi are living organisms, like plants. Scientists have discovered a new type of fungi in South America. The fungus creates flowers. These flowers look and smell like real flowers.

The fungus grows near a type of grass called Xyris. Xyris usually produces yellow flowers. But the fungus stops this from happening. The fungus grows its own flowers instead. The fungal flowers are a similar size and shape to Xyris's flowers.

This confuses bees which visit the fake flowers. The bees are looking for nectar to make honey. But they get covered in fungal spores instead. Then, they carry the fungal spores to other areas with Xyris. This helps the fungus grow in different areas.

Fungi often make insects help them. There is another type of fungi that lives on blueberry plants. It makes sugar. This brings insects to the plants. The insects take fungal spores with them when they leave the plants. The fungus then spreads to more plants.