Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that have been consumed and used for medicinal purposes by humans for thousands of years. They are fleshy fruiting bodies that produce microscopic spores to help the fungus spread. They can appear above or below ground and are typically foraged in the spring and fall. Mushrooms are more closely related to animals than plants, as they breathe oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, and their cells are surprisingly similar to human cells. Fungi, including mushrooms, build their cell walls out of chitin, the same material found in the shells of insects and other arthropods. With their unique characteristics and ability to survive in the vacuum of space, mushrooms have sparked theories about their impact on human life on Earth and their potential extraterrestrial origins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are the fleshy fruit bodies of numerous species of macrofungi (fungi that bear fruiting structures large enough to be seen with the naked eye). |
| Classification | Mushrooms are classified as fungi and are part of the kingdom Fungi, which includes lichen, yeast, plant rusts, moulds, and smut. |
| Morphology | Mushrooms typically have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. However, not all mushrooms have this structure, and some have variations such as stalks, shelves, or no distinct features. |
| Habitat | Mushrooms can appear either below ground (hypogeous) or above ground (epigeous) and are typically found in meadows, fields, deciduous forests, tropical and subtropical conditions, and near termite mounds. |
| Edibility | Edible mushrooms are those that are not poisonous to humans and have desirable taste and aroma. Examples include shiitake, chanterelle, and puffballs. Poisonous mushrooms, such as the death cap, can cause severe symptoms or even death. |
| Cultivation | Mushrooms can be cultivated through farming operations or foraged in the wild. Wild mushroom foraging has gained popularity but can have negative environmental impacts, such as littering and plant trampling. |
| Storage | Fresh mushrooms have a short storage life, lasting 3-4 days in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Dried mushrooms can be stored in a sealed container for a year or more. |
| Preparation | Mushrooms can be cooked in various ways, including frying, braising, roasting, grilling, steaming, sautéing, or even consumed raw. They pair well with dairy, meats, eggs, vegetables, and fresh herbs. |
| Medicinal Uses | Mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, including in native medicine traditions worldwide. For example, the Amadou mushroom was classified as a potent anti-inflammatory by Hippocrates around 4500 BCE. |
| Psychoactive Properties | Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, have been used for recreational, spiritual, and therapeutic purposes. They contain psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin, which can induce hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. |
| Bioluminescence | Some mushroom species are bioluminescent, emitting light due to the presence of compounds like luciferin and the oxidative enzyme luciferase. About 74-80 fungal species are known to exhibit this property. |
| Environmental Impact | Mushroom farming operations are working towards sustainability by disposing of "spent mushroom substrate" through composting or spreading it on fields. |
| Human Connection | Mushrooms are more closely related to animals, including humans, than to plants. Fungi cells share similarities with human cells, and both require external food sources for energy. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are part of the fungi family
Mushrooms are indeed part of the fungi family. They are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. The gills on the underside of the cap of a mushroom produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
The word "mushroom" is most commonly used to refer to those fungi that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. However, the term is also used to describe a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems. These include "bolete", "truffle", "puffball", "stinkhorn", and "morel".
Mushrooms are typically identified by their macroscopic structure, including the presence of juices upon breaking, bruising reactions, odours, tastes, shades of colour, habitat, and season. They are also identified microscopically, by examining the shape of their gills.
Mushrooms are a rich source of B vitamins, selenium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. They have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence of mushrooms being used "spiritually" dating back to as early as 10,000 BCE.
Fungi, including mushrooms, are more closely related to animals (including humans) than plants. Fungi cells are surprisingly similar to human cells, and both animals and fungi rely on external food sources for energy. Fungi also contain a substance called chitin in their cell walls, which also occurs in the external skeletons of insects, spiders, and other arthropods.
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Humans are more closely related to mushrooms than plants
Mushrooms are a part of the fungi family, which is a kingdom of its own, separate from plants. Fungi and animals, including humans, share a common ancestor, which branched away from plants around 1.1 billion years ago. This ancestor was likely a single-celled organism with sperm-like characteristics and a later developmental stage with a stronger cell wall.
Fungal proteins resemble animal proteins more than they do plant proteins. Both animals and fungi contain lanosterol, a component that plants lack. Furthermore, unlike plants, which can photosynthesise, animals and fungi rely on external food sources for energy. Fungi, like humans, also produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
Fungi and insects use chitin, a polysaccharide, to construct their cell walls, whereas plants use cellulose. The presence of chitin in fungi and the external skeletons of arthropods, such as insects, spiders, and other arthropods, is noteworthy.
Genetic studies provide additional evidence for the closer relationship between humans and mushrooms. Humans share approximately 50% of their DNA with fungi. For example, both humans and mushrooms store carbohydrate energy as glycogen, while plants use starch for energy storage.
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Mushrooms have been consumed since prehistoric times
Mushrooms are a member of the fungi family, which is a kingdom of its own, separate from plants. They are the fruit body of fungi, living a short lifespan to produce and spread spores. Humans are more closely related to mushrooms than plants, and fungi cells are surprisingly similar to human cells.
Fungi have been consumed since prehistoric times, with archaeological evidence of mushroom use in spiritual rituals dating back to 10,000 BCE. Ancient civilisations such as the Greeks, Romans, Mayans, Egyptians, and Vikings all consumed mushrooms, with evidence of use in spiritual and medicinal contexts. For example, the Greeks drank ergot mushrooms during ceremonies, reporting visions and hallucinations. The Romans employed food tasters to ensure mushrooms were safe to eat, and the Egyptians believed that mushrooms were the "food of the gods", bestowing immortality upon those who consumed them.
Mushrooms have also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Around 4500 BCE, the Greek physician Hippocrates classified the Amadou mushroom as a potent anti-inflammatory. Hallucinogenic mushrooms have played a role in various native medicine traditions worldwide, and psychedelic mushrooms have been consumed for recreational and spiritual purposes by many cultures.
The first reference to mushrooms in a U.S. cookbook was in 1824, in 'The Virginia House-Wife'. Today, hundreds of mushroom species are consumed globally, with wild mushrooms foraged in the spring and fall, and cultivated mushrooms available year-round. While mushroom cultivation can be energy-intensive, many farming operations are trying to become more environmentally friendly by disposing of "spent mushroom substrate" through composting or spreading it on fields.
Identifying whether a mushroom is edible or poisonous is a complex task, and one that humans have grappled with since prehistoric times. Today, advanced techniques such as chemistry or microscopy are required to identify some edible species.
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Some mushrooms are poisonous, some are edible
Mushrooms are part of the fungi family, a kingdom separate from plants. They are more closely related to animals, including humans, than to plants. The term "mushroom" is typically used to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota, which have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. Some mushrooms are edible, while others are poisonous, and the delineation between the two is not always clear-cut.
Edible mushrooms vary in size, shape, and color and can be found fresh or dried. When foraging for wild mushrooms, it is important to be able to distinguish between edible and poisonous varieties. Some general rules 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, as these are members of the deadly Amanita family. It is also important to avoid mushrooms with any red on the cap, stem, or pores, as well as those that stain blue when cut in half vertically.
Identifying mushrooms can be a complex process, and even modern identification methods are not always precise. Traditional methods of identification, such as those used by amateur and professional mycologists, consider factors such as the presence of juices upon breaking, bruising reactions, odors, tastes, shades of color, habitat, and season. Chemical tests and microscopic examination can also be used for identification.
Some examples of edible mushrooms include the Giant Puffball, Yellow Morel, and Shaggy Mane. On the other hand, poisonous mushrooms include the Jack O'Lantern, False Morels, and the deadly Amanita species, which resemble edible button mushrooms and meadow mushrooms. It is important to be able to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms, as consuming certain poisonous varieties can have severe health consequences, including gastrointestinal distress, nausea, convulsions, coma, and even death.
While some mushrooms are poisonous, others have medicinal properties and have been used for thousands of years in various cultures. Additionally, mushrooms with psychoactive properties have played a role in traditional medicine practices around the world.
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Mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years
Mushrooms are part of the fungi family, an entire kingdom of its own, separate from plants. They are the fruit body of fungi, living a short life span to produce spores so that the fungus can spread. The term "mushroom" and its variations may have been derived from the French word "mousseron" in reference to moss ("mousse"). The word "mushroom" is most often used to describe those fungi that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap.
In more recent times, the study of medicinal mushrooms has become more scientific. In the 19th and 20th centuries, researchers began to isolate and identify the active compounds in mushrooms that are responsible for their medicinal effects. This led to the development of mushroom-based drugs for a variety of conditions, including cancer and infections. Today, medicinal mushrooms are used for a wide range of purposes, including boosting the immune system, fighting cancer, and improving overall health and well-being.
Mushrooms have a diverse range of chemical constituents, which can be both beneficial and detrimental to human health. Some mushrooms can feed and heal, while others can be deadly or induce hallucinations. The most common medicinal mushrooms include reishi, shiitake, and maitake, which are thought to have beneficial effects such as improving immune function, reducing inflammation, and fighting cancer cells.
Modern science has recognized the value of mushrooms, and they are now being cultivated to further exploit their medicinal purposes. The use of different solvents to water has unveiled new sets of active constituents that were unavailable to our ancestors. Mushrooms are nature's miniature pharmaceutical factories, rich in a vast array of novel constituents that warrant further exploration.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushrooms are native to Earth. They are part of the fungi family, which is a kingdom of its own, separate from plants.
Mushrooms possess many traits that are unique to their kingdom. They build their cell walls out of chitin, the same material that makes up the hard outer shells of insects and other arthropods. Their spores are electron-dense and can survive in the vacuum of space. The outer layer of the spores is metallic and purple, which helps to deflect ultraviolet light.
Mushrooms are more closely related to animals than plants. The primary reason is that they "breathe" oxygen and "exhale" carbon dioxide, similar to humans and unlike plants.
Edible mushrooms include shiitake, chanterelle, puffballs, beech mushrooms, lion's mane, and many more. Edibility is defined by the absence of poisonous effects, desirable taste, and aroma.
Mushrooms have been used by humans for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence of spiritual and medicinal use dating back to prehistoric times. Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, have been used as recreational drugs and in traditional medicine.
