Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are a fungus, and while they are similar to plants, they are not plants or animals. They are their own kingdom. There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. Mushrooms develop from a nodule, or pinhead, called a primordium, which is formed within the mycelium, a mass of thread-like hyphae that make up the fungus. The primordium then enlarges into a roundish structure that resembles an egg, called a button. Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke, and these spores help the fungus spread.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are a type of fungus with a stem (stipe) and a cap (pileus). |
| Structure | Mushrooms have gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap, which produce microscopic spores to help the fungus spread. |
| Varieties | Common types include fairy-ring, shiitake, enoki, oyster, fly agarics, and magic mushrooms. |
| Nutrition | Raw mushrooms are 92% water, 4% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat. They provide 22 calories per 100 grams and are a good source of B vitamins, selenium, and copper. |
| Classification | Mushrooms constitute their own kingdom, separate from plants and animals. |
| Reproduction | Mushrooms are the fruit of the fungus, containing spores for reproduction and dispersal. |
| Uses | Mushrooms are edible, poisonous, or unpalatable. They are also used to make medicines and antibiotics. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are a type of fungus
Mushrooms are characterised by their stem (or stipe) and cap (or pileus). They produce spores, called basidiospores, on their gills (lamellae, singular lamella). These spores are microscopic and help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The gills are located on the underside of the cap, which is also known as the hymenial layer. The spores are shot off basidia and then fall between the gills in the dead air space. When the spores land in a suitable place, they germinate, developing filaments that become a new mycelium.
Before developing the mushroom structure, the fungus lives as a mycelium, a network of filaments infusing a patch of soil or wood. When conditions are optimal, the mycelium develops a fruiting structure, a mushroom, which emerges from the ground or a tree. The mycelium can be long-lived and massive, even when the mushroom fruiting bodies are short-lived. For example, a colony of Armillaria solidipes in Malheur National Forest in the United States is estimated to be 2,400 years old and spans 2,200 acres.
The term "mushroom" is loosely used to describe a variety of gilled fungi, with or without stems. Some mushrooms have pores underneath (boletes) or spines (hedgehog mushroom and other tooth fungi). The term "mushroom" has also been used to refer to polypores, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, bracket fungi, stinkhorns, and cup fungi. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus).
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They have their own kingdom
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. They are not plants or animals, but they constitute their own kingdom: the Fungi. This kingdom includes the familiar mushroom-forming species, as well as yeasts, moulds, smuts, and rusts. There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, and they vary in shape, size, and colour.
The term "mushroom" is more one of common application to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies than one with a precise taxonomic meaning. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. Hence, 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. The gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
The delineation between edible and poisonous fungi is not clear-cut, so a "mushroom" may be edible, poisonous, or unpalatable. The word toadstool first appeared in 14th-century England, possibly implying an inedible, poisonous fungus.
Mushrooms and fungi play important roles in nature and to humans. As saprophytes that break down dead materials, fungi are responsible for keeping us from drowning in a sea of leaf litter and fallen branches. Fungi also create antibiotics and other drugs. One early strain of penicillin was first isolated in the 1940s from a rotten cantaloupe.
Fungi are eukaryotes, meaning that, like plants and animals, their cells have a nucleus where DNA is stored. However, fungi are more closely related to animals than they are to plants.
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Mushrooms have stems and caps
Mushrooms are a kingdom of their own—the Fungi—and include familiar mushroom-forming species, yeasts, moulds, smuts, and rusts. They are not plants or animals. Mushrooms are short-lived fruiting bodies that develop from a nodule or pinhead called a primordium, which is typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. The primordium enlarges into a roundish structure called a "button", which has a cottony roll of mycelium, the universal veil, that surrounds the developing fruit body. As the egg expands, the universal veil ruptures and may remain as a cup at the base of the stalk or as warts or volval patches on the cap.
The mushroom, which can also be called a sporophore, is made up of a cap and stem. The cap, also known as the pileus, is the structure on top of the mushroom that holds the gills or pores. The gills are small, thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem and have an opening on one side. They are composed of two layers: the lamellae that reach from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that don't reach the stem. The gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
The stems and caps of mushrooms cook differently and have distinct flavours and textures. Some mushroom stems are tough and woody, while others are tastier than the caps. For example, the king oyster's stem is considered the best part of the mushroom, but portobello stems get tough and woody.
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They produce spores, not seeds
Mushrooms are part of the Fungi kingdom, which also includes yeasts, moulds, smuts, and rusts. They are similar to plants but do not contain chlorophyll and must obtain nutrients from other materials. The entire life cycle of mushrooms is rarely witnessed because most of it occurs underground or beneath the bark of dead or living trees.
Before developing the mushroom structure, the fungus lives as a mycelium, a network of filaments infusing a patch of soil or wood. When the conditions are favourable, the mycelium develops a fruiting structure, a mushroom, which emerges from the ground or the tree. Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke, instead of seeds. These spores are produced on the gills of the mushroom and fall in a fine rain of powder from under the caps.
The gills play a crucial role in spore production, with each gill having the potential to produce one billion offspring in a single day. The spores are ejected from the gill surface by surface tension catapults and then carried by wind currents. They travel asymmetrically in tongues of spore-laden air, dispersing in patterns influenced by temperature differentials and shape asymmetry.
When spores land in a suitable, moist environment, they germinate and develop fine filaments that become a new mycelium. This process of spore germination and mycelium development is essential for the growth and reproduction of mushrooms.
In summary, mushrooms produce spores, not seeds, as a means of reproduction and dispersal. These spores are microscopic and can be carried by wind or released when the mushroom is jostled or squeezed. The spores then germinate and develop into new mycelium, starting the life cycle of a new mushroom.
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Some mushrooms are edible, some are poisonous
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they are not plants or animals. They are fungi, and they constitute their own kingdom. They have a short life, but the underlying mycelium can be long-lasting and massive. The mycelium is a network of filaments that infuse a patch of soil or wood. When conditions are right, the mycelium develops a fruiting structure, a mushroom, which emerges from the ground or a tree.
There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, and they vary in shape, size, and colour. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. The term "mushroom" is also used to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota. The gills of mushrooms produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread.
The delineation between edible and poisonous mushrooms is not always clear-cut, so it is important to be 100% sure of what a mushroom is before consuming it. Some good rules to follow for avoiding poisonous mushrooms include avoiding those with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem, and a bulbous or sack-like base called a volva. Mushrooms with red on the cap or stem should also be avoided. These rules will help rule out the deadly members of the Amanita family, which can cause severe poisoning and even death.
Some edible mushrooms include the Giant Puffball, Yellow Morel, Chanterelles, and Shaggy Mane. However, it is important to note that even edible mushrooms can cause allergies or sensitivities in some individuals, so it is always recommended to try a small amount of any new species before consuming a full meal.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushrooms are a type of fungus. They constitute their own kingdom, separate from plants and animals.
Mushrooms typically have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. However, not all mushrooms have these features, and some have unique characteristics, such as pores, spines, or sacs of tissue (volva) at the base of the stem.
Mushrooms grow from a nodule or pinhead called a primordium, which enlarges into a round structure called a "button." The button is surrounded by a universal veil that ruptures as the mushroom expands, sometimes leaving a cup-like structure at the base of the stalk. Mushrooms reproduce by producing spores, which are dispersed from the gills on the underside of the cap.
No, not all mushrooms are edible. Some mushrooms are poisonous, while others may be unpalatable. It is important to properly identify a mushroom before consuming it.
