John Miller
Mushrooms are a member of the kingdom Fungi, which also includes yeasts, moulds, smuts, and rusts. They are characterised by a stem (stipe) and a cap (pileus), with gills (lamellae) underneath the cap that produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread. The term 'mushroom' is used to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota, and there are approximately 14,000 species of mushrooms. They are neither plants nor animals and are more closely related genetically to animals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are a part of the fungus, similar to how an apple is a part of a tree. |
| Taxonomy | Mushrooms constitute their own kingdom: the Fungi. |
| Composition | Raw brown mushrooms are 92% water, 4% carbohydrates, 2% protein and less than 1% fat. |
| Nutrition | In 100 grams, raw mushrooms provide 22 calories and are a rich source of B vitamins, selenium, copper, phosphorus, zinc and potassium. |
| Uses | Mushrooms are used in cooking. They also play important roles in nature, such as breaking down dead materials. |
| Types | Common types of mushrooms include the fairy-ring mushroom, shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, and fly agarics. |
| Identification | Mushrooms typically have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. |
| Spores | Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke. These spores help the fungus spread. |
| Development | Mushrooms develop from a nodule called a primordium, which enlarges into a roundish structure called a "button". |
| Parasitism | When mushrooms are seen growing from a living tree, the tree is being parasitized by a fungus. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are a type of fungus
The word "mushroom" is typically used to describe the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, which has a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. The gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread. These spores are released in a fine rain of powder that falls from under the caps. The term "mushroom" is also used more loosely to describe a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems.
Mushrooms develop from a small nodule called a primordium, which enlarges into a round structure called a "button". The button has a cottony roll of mycelium, called the universal veil, that surrounds the developing fruit body. As the egg expands, the universal veil ruptures and may leave remnants at the base of the stalk, such as a cup, warts, or patches.
There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, and they vary greatly in shape, size, and colour. Mushrooms are a rich source of B vitamins, selenium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. They play an important role in nature by breaking down dead materials, such as leaf litter and fallen branches.
Can Drug Dogs Sniff Out Magic Mushrooms?
You may want to see also
They have stems, caps, and gills
Mushrooms are a part of the Fungi kingdom. They are neither plants nor animals. The standard definition of a "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. However, the term "mushroom" is used loosely to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota. The term is more one of common application to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies than one having precise taxonomic meaning.
Mushrooms have a distinct structure consisting of a cap, stem, and gills. The cap, or pileus, sits on top of the mushroom and holds the gills or pores. Caps can vary in shape, size, colour, and texture, and may be smooth or covered with scales or teeth. The gills, or lamellae, are found on the underside of the cap and produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread. These spores are released in a fine rain of powder that may be dispersed by wind or animals. The gills can be attached to the stem or free, and they can have various forking or branching patterns. False gills, which are actually ridges, can be distinguished from true gills by trying to detach them from the mushroom. True gills are separate parts of the mushroom that can be picked off.
The stem, or stipe, may or may not be present in mushrooms. When present, it can be short or long, and it may be centred or off-centre. The stem can have scales, which often appear as a result of cracking during the expansion of the cap. In some cases, a partial veil covers the gills in an immature mushroom and extends from the edge of the cap to the stem. This veil breaks as the cap expands, leaving remnants such as a collar of tissue around the stem or filaments on the stem.
The unique structure of mushrooms, with their caps, stems, and gills, plays a vital role in the life cycle of these fascinating organisms. The gills produce spores that are released into the environment, ensuring the continuation of the mushroom's life cycle.
Mexican Mushrooms: A Guide to the Magic and Benefits
You may want to see also
Mushrooms produce spores
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they are not plants or animals. They are part of their own kingdom: the Fungi. Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke. These spores are single-celled reproductive structures that allow fungi to spread to new locations, find new food sources, and reproduce.
The gills of mushrooms produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The spores are shot off basidia and then fall between the gills in the dead air space. As a result, if the cap is cut off and placed gill-side-down, a powdery impression reflecting the shape of the gills will be formed. This powder is made up of tens of thousands of spores, which are so small that it takes 25,000 of them to cover a pinhead.
Mushrooms use convectively created airflows to disperse their spores. The distance spores are dispersed depends on factors under the control of the parent fungus. The presence of nearby boundaries for the upward-flowing part of the current to climb may enhance spore dispersal. Mushrooms are not simple machines for producing the largest number of spores, but they directly influence the dispersal of those spores.
A single mushroom can produce billions of spores a day. However, most spores will never become a new fungus as they have several obstacles to overcome. Spores don't contain much food, so they must land in a spot with a good food source to germinate. They also need specific environmental conditions to grow, including the correct temperature range and humidity levels.
How to Season Mushrooms Like a Chef
You may want to see also
Explore related products
They are not plants or animals
Mushrooms are not plants or animals. They are fungi, constituting their own kingdom. While they may resemble plants, they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. The word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. However, not all mushrooms have these features, and the term is used loosely to describe a variety of gilled and non-gilled fungi.
Mushrooms are the fruit of the fungus, like an apple is part of a tree. They develop from a nodule or pinhead called a primordium, which enlarges into a roundish structure called a "button". The button is surrounded by a cottony roll of mycelium, the universal veil, which ruptures as the egg expands. Mushrooms produce spores, which are dispersed to germinate and develop into a new mycelium. This process is similar to the sexual reproduction of plants, but spores are not homologous to seeds.
Fungi, including mushrooms, are more closely related to animals than they are to plants. They are eukaryotes, meaning that their cells have a nucleus where DNA is stored, like plants and animals. However, they reproduce by budding and fragmentation, and they break down dead materials, keeping us from drowning in a sea of leaf litter and fallen branches.
Some common examples of mushrooms include the fairy-ring mushroom, shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, and fly agarics. Mushrooms can be edible, poisonous, or unpalatable, and they play important roles in nature and for humans. For example, they are responsible for the production of blue cheese and antibiotics, and they form mutually beneficial relationships with the roots of plants, helping them to absorb water and minerals.
Mushroom Glasses: How Do They Work?
You may want to see also
There are around 10,000 types of mushrooms
Mushrooms are a member of the Fungi kingdom, which also includes yeasts, moulds, smuts, and rusts. They are neither plants nor animals, but they do resemble plants in some ways. Like plants, they lack chlorophyll and must take nutrients from other materials. However, they do not produce seeds; instead, they produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke.
Mushrooms are classified based on their macroscopic structure, particularly the presence of gills, pores, or spines. Most mushrooms are gilled and have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. These gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread. Some mushrooms deviate from this standard morphology and have more specific names, such as "bolete", "truffle", "puffball", "stinkhorn", and "morel".
Mushrooms are popular worldwide for their versatility and meat-like texture. They are a rich source of B vitamins, selenium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. They can be used in a wide variety of dishes, including tacos, quesadillas, pasta carbonara, cheesesteaks, burgers, stir-fries, and noodle dishes.
Mushrooms: Motility and Movement Explored
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushrooms are a fungus. They are not plants or animals but constitute their own kingdom: the Fungi.
The term "mushroom" is used to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some fungi. Fungi include other shapes and growth patterns like yeasts, brackets, jellies, and molds.
Some common mushrooms include the fairy-ring mushroom, shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, and fly agarics. There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America alone.
