Kay Phillips, age 12, of Columbia, Tenn., for her question:

ARE THERE MANY KINDS OF FUNGI?

Fungi is the name of a group of simple plants that have no green coloring matter. They are among the 10 groups, or phyla, of plants that make up the lowest division of the plant kingdom. Scientists who study fungi have named about 75,000 different kinds.

Fungi have no stems, leaves or flowers. They occur everywhere: in water, soil and in the air. Most fungi are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and some grow to over two feet in diameter.

Many fungi, including the yeasts and many mushrooms and truffles, are useful and can be eaten as food. Still other fungi are used in medicine.

Sometimes fungi get their food by simply absorbing the minerals, sugars and water from the material on which they grow. More often,_ the fungi must secrete enzymes that makes the food soluble so that they can absorb it.

Fungi that live and feed on living plants or animals are called parasitic fungi. Those that feed on dead or decaying plant or animal matter are called saprophytic fungi.

Many scientists group bacteria and slime molds among the fungi.