Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that grow in a variety of environments, including forests and lawns, and can be identified by their distinctive macroscopic structure, including gills and spores. They have a long history of being consumed and studied by humans, with terms like mushroom and toadstool dating back to medieval times. While the edibility of mushrooms is not always clear-cut, with some being edible, poisonous, or unpalatable, they have been found to have important roles in ecosystems, such as potentially helping honey bees fight diseases. Additionally, mushrooms have a unique growth pattern, with some growing rapidly overnight and others growing slowly over time, adding tissue to their fruiting bodies. The largest known organism on Earth is a fungus, specifically a type of mushroom called Armillaria solidipes, which covers a vast area in Oregon's Blue Mountains. This discovery challenges our understanding of the living world and highlights the significance of further exploring the strange world of mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushrooms are a part of the Fungi kingdom | Armillaria ostoyae, Pleurotus nebrodensis, etc. |
| Mushrooms are a colony | Yes, a clonal colony of honey mushrooms (Armillaria ostoyae) in Oregon has been found to extend across more than 965 hectares/2,384 acres of forested mountains |
| Mushrooms grow in varied conditions | Mushrooms grow in lawns, humid spaces, forests, and mountains |
| Mushrooms grow at varied speeds | Some mushrooms grow rapidly overnight, while some grow very slowly |
| Mushrooms have varied lifespans | The lifespan of mushrooms varies from a few hours to a few thousand years |
| Mushrooms have medicinal properties | An extract made from the Amadou mushroom, Fomes fomentarius, reduced the Deformed Wing Virus in honey bees |
| Mushrooms have varied nutritional content | Raw brown mushrooms are 92% water, 4% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat |
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What You'll Learn
Honey mushrooms are a clonal colony
Honey mushrooms, or Armillaria ostoyae, are a clonal colony. This means that they are a group of genetically identical organisms that have grown in a given location, all originating vegetatively from a single ancestor. In the autumn, the subterranean parts of the organism bloom honey mushrooms as surface fruits. The species grows and spreads primarily underground, so the bulk of the organism is not visible from the surface. This allows the fungus to grow to huge proportions, and it possibly covers more total geographical area than any other single living organism.
The honey mushroom colony in Oregon's Blue Mountains occupies some 2,384 acres of soil and is believed to be the world's largest fungus, weighing in at 35,000 tons. It is estimated to be between 1,900 and 8,650 years old. Another specimen in Oregon's Malheur National Forest is possibly the largest living organism on Earth by mass, area, and volume; it covers 3.5 square miles (9.1 square kilometres) and weighs as much as 35,000 tons.
Honey mushrooms are pathogenic and parasitic, invading the sapwood of trees and spreading between trees in the form of black rhizomorphs, or "shoestrings". They are often referred to as bootlace fungus, in reference to their thick, black rhizomorphs. The rhizomorphs allow the fungus to obtain nutrients over distances and are a major factor in its pathogenicity.
Honey mushrooms tend to appear in large, rapid, localised surges. They are incredibly prolific producers of mushrooms, but most types of honey fungus spread to new hosts primarily through their searching rhizomorphs rather than through airborne dispersal of spores. As honey fungus can vary in digestibility depending on species, subspecies, phenotype, substrate, and age, it is recommended to only eat them with knowing friends and family.
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Mushrooms are part of the Fungi kingdom
The word "fungus" is derived from the Latin "fungus" (mushroom), which was used in the writings of Horace and Pliny. This, in turn, is derived from the Greek word "sphongos", referring to the macroscopic structures and morphology of mushrooms and molds. The study of fungi is known as mycology, derived from the Greek "mykes" (mushroom) and Greek "logos" (discourse).
The classification of Kingdom Fungi is the result of collaborative research by dozens of mycologists and scientists. It recognizes seven phyla, two of which—the Ascomycota and the Basidiomycota—are contained within the subkingdom Dikarya. This subkingdom includes all mushrooms, most food spoilage molds, most plant pathogenic fungi, and the yeasts used in beer, wine, and bread.
The largest organism on Earth is a fungus, specifically a clonal colony of honey mushrooms (Armillaria ostoyae) in Oregon, spanning over 965 hectares (2,384 acres) and estimated to be between 1,900 and 8,650 years old. This discovery challenged the notion that the blue whale was the largest living organism.
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Mushroom cultivation methods
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi that generally grow on dead organisms or in symbiosis with other organisms. They are low in calories, fat, and sodium, and are high in protein and fibre, with many vitamins and minerals.
Mushroom cultivation involves identifying optimal growing conditions, preparing spawn/seed, preparing the growing medium, maintaining proper temperature and humidity, harvesting, and storing. Here are some specific methods for cultivating mushrooms:
Outdoor Log-Based System
Shiitake mushrooms can be grown on logs and stumps, with the logs soaked or "shocked" each week from May/June to October outdoors to create a flush of mushrooms. Logs can yield 4-5 lbs of mushrooms over three seasons.
Straw-Based Cultivation
Oyster mushrooms are often grown on straw after trying the shiitake log method. The mycelium grows fast and can utilise straw as a low-nutrient, high-carbon substrate. Different types of oysters can be grown, including pink, blue, yellow, and brown. Straw production has a relatively fast crop cycle of five weeks from inoculation to harvest.
Indoor Fruiting
This method involves creating a fruiting environment inside a building or structure, such as a basement, barn, trailer, or warehouse. It allows for precise environmental controls and year-round production.
Spawn Preparation
Spawn/seed preparation involves inoculating wheat grains with fungal mycelium. The spawn is then mixed with the growing medium, which can be prepared using materials like rice straw or bagasse. The mixture is then layered in bags or blocks.
Composting
Phase I composting involves mixing and wetting raw materials such as straw, horse manure, poultry manure, bran, urea, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, or gypsum. Aerobic fermentation starts, and the compost is ready in 5-18 days, depending on the raw materials.
Casing
Casing involves mixing finely crushed rotten cow dung with garden soil to create casing soil, which should be on the alkaline side. The soil must be well sterilised to kill harmful insects, nematodes, and pests. This can be done by treating the soil with a Formalin solution or by steaming.
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Mushrooms are a rich source of vitamins and minerals
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that grows above ground, on top of the soil, or on the surface of a food source. They are native to North America and Europe and are known for their delicate flavour and meaty texture. They are also widely recognised for their health benefits, as they are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Mushrooms are the only vegan, non-fortified dietary source of vitamin D. They are also a good source of B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, B6, and B12. B vitamins help to provide energy by breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and they also play an important role in the nervous system. Additionally, mushrooms are a rich source of potassium, which aids in maintaining normal fluid and mineral balance, helping to control blood pressure. Potassium also plays a role in ensuring the proper functioning of nerves and muscles, including the heart.
Mushrooms contain high amounts of selenium, which is an antioxidant that helps to protect body cells from damage that could lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease, some cancers, and other diseases of aging. Selenium can also help prevent cell damage in our bodies. Mushrooms also contain vitamin B6, which helps our bodies form red blood cells, and vitamin B12, which is important for maintaining a healthy nervous system.
The health benefits of mushrooms don't stop there. They are also a rich, low-calorie source of fibre, protein, and antioxidants. They may help to lower the risk of developing serious health conditions, such as Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Mushrooms have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, which can improve the efficiency of the immune system.
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Mushrooms can be poisonous
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and while many varieties are edible, some are poisonous and even deadly. The only way to tell whether a wild mushroom is safe to eat is to have it identified by a mushroom expert (mycologist). Mushroom poisoning can occur due to foragers misidentifying a poisonous species as edible. There is no home test to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. Therefore, it is recommended that you only eat mushrooms bought from a reputable source, such as a supermarket or greengrocer.
The yellow-staining mushroom (Agaricus xanthodermus) is the most commonly eaten poisonous mushroom in Victoria, Australia. It often grows wild in lawns and gardens and resembles edible mushrooms, except that its cap and stem stain yellow when damaged. Poisoning by this mushroom causes severe gastrointestinal upsets such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Less common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, sweating, and drowsiness.
The death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) is another highly poisonous variety, responsible for about nine out of ten fungi-related deaths. Its amatoxins are heat-stable, quickly damaging cells throughout the body. Symptoms of death cap poisoning include violent abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea, followed by severe liver, kidney, and central nervous system issues. Death can occur within 48 hours of ingestion.
Autumn skullcap mushrooms (Galerina marginata) are also poisonous and potentially deadly. They are common throughout the Northern Hemisphere and parts of Australia and contain the same amatoxins as the death cap mushroom. Poisoning by this mushroom causes diarrhea, vomiting, hypothermia, and liver damage.
Other poisonous mushrooms include the destroying angel (Amanita verna), a white mushroom similar in appearance to edible button and meadow mushrooms, and the Conocybe filaris, an innocent-looking lawn mushroom common in the Pacific Northwest.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are a type of fungus. They are the fruit of the fungus, which is mostly found underground and in decaying wood or dying tree roots.
Yes, mushrooms are a colony of organisms. A clonal colony of honey mushrooms (Armillaria ostoyae) in Oregon has been found to extend across more than 965 hectares.
Mushrooms have been found to have important roles in ecosystems. For example, an extract from the Amadou mushroom, Fomes fomentarius, has been found to reduce the Deformed Wing Virus in honey bees.
Identifying mushrooms requires a basic understanding of their macroscopic structure. Most are basidiomycetes and gilled, producing spores called basidiospores on their gills. The colour of the spore print is useful for classifying and identifying mushrooms.
