Living BeingsCompare species
Black Bread Mold
Rhizopus stolonifer
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Black Bread Mold | African Baobab |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | Stolons spread across the substrate, with anchoring rhizoids and upright sporangiophores bearing rounded sporangia. | Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point. |
| Habitat and range | Moist, nutrient-rich organic material, including damaged plant tissues, can support growth. | A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements. |
| Diet and nutrition | The fungus absorbs products released from organic substrates, including sugars and starch-containing material. | Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots. |
| Behavior and activity | Rapid hyphal extension spreads a colony; spores allow dispersal beyond the original substrate. | Data unavailable |
| Reproduction and life cycle | Asexual spores form in sporangia. Compatible mating types can produce thick-walled sexual zygospores with a dormant phase. | Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed. |
| Geographic distribution | Spores and substrate-associated records are widespread. An individual indoor colony still requires identification before being called this species. | Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species. |
| Ecological role | Decomposition and spoilage connect its growth with nutrient release from plant-derived material. | Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one. |
| Distinctive adaptations | A spreading stolon system and distinct resting and dispersal structures support different phases of its life. | A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees. |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Eukaryota.