November’s science meeting looked at fungi in all their diverse forms, from microscopic single-celled yeast (who has not got a loaf of bread or a bottle of wine in the house?), to the largest living organism on the planet – a honey fungus which occupies 3.7 square metres of the Blue Mountains in Oregon.

We heard about, and saw pictures of, mouldy fruit; mildew and dry rot; skin diseases; flies driven crazy; and even a mouldy mushroom – fungus feeding on fungus!

But on the positive side there was blue cheese; cider; protein-rich Quorn; truffles and that vital anti-biotic on which we all depend, penicillin.

Think about it – how many kinds of fungus can you find in your house and garden?

Jill Taylor