Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are fungi, biologically distinct from plant- and animal-derived foods. They are also nutritionally unique, providing nutrients found in food groups while also having a unique nutrient profile. There are approximately 14,000 species of mushrooms, and they are typically identified by their macroscopic structure, which includes gills, pores, spines, and more. They are also classified by their microscopic characteristics, such as the presence of spores, called basidiospores, which can be observed by placing the cap gill-side-down overnight. The color of the resulting spore print is useful for classifying and identifying mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and are biologically distinct from plants and animals. |
| Taxonomy | Mushrooms are classified as a separate kingdom from plants and animals, based on cellular organization. |
| Nutrition | Mushrooms provide nutrients found in plant and animal food groups, but also have a unique nutrient profile. |
| Culinary Use | Mushrooms are commonly used in cooking, particularly in plant-based diets. |
| Identification | Modern identification methods are becoming more molecular, but standard methods such as macroscopic structure, microscopic examination, and chemical tests are still used. |
| Varieties | There are over 14,000 described species of mushrooms, with more than 2000 edible varieties. |
| Common Varieties | White button, crimini, portabella, shiitake, straw, oyster, enoki, morels, chanterelles. |
| Poisonous Varieties | Some mushrooms are extremely poisonous and can cause violent illness or death. |
| Hallucinogenic Varieties | Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are hallucinogenic and can cause altered senses, thoughts, emotions, and hallucinations. |
| Effects of Hallucinogenic Varieties | Nausea, yawning, drowsiness, paranoia, panic attacks, fear of death, flashbacks, headaches. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are fungi, distinct from plants and animals
Mushrooms are distinct from plants and animals as they are classified as fungi. Fungi were once considered primitive plants, but they are now accepted as a separate kingdom. Fungi are distinct from plants and animals in several ways. Plants, for instance, have chlorophyll and make their own food through photosynthesis, whereas fungi lack chlorophyll and exist on decaying material in nature. Fungi also contain chitin, a polysaccharide derivative of glucose found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects, rather than cellulose, which is found in plants.
Fungi are also distinct from animals. Animals ingest their food, whereas fungi feed on decaying matter. Fungi also contain ergosterol, a unique sterol not found in animals.
Mushrooms are a type of fungus with an umbrella-shaped fruiting body. They are typically gilled and produce spores called basidiospores on these gills. These spores are released in a fine powder, which can be used to classify and identify mushrooms. There are approximately 14,000 species of mushrooms, with over 2,000 varieties that are edible.
Some mushrooms are also hallucinogenic, containing substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, which can cause hallucinations and alter a person's sense of reality. These mushrooms are known as magic mushrooms and are used as recreational drugs.
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Some mushrooms are edible, some are poisonous
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, distinct from plants and animals. They are classified as a "third food kingdom" due to their unique nutrient profile. They lack chlorophyll and exist on decaying material in nature, unlike plants, which make their own food through photosynthesis. Fungi contain chitin, a derivative of glucose, and ergosterol, a unique type of sterol.
There are approximately 14,000 species of mushrooms, with around 100,000 known fungi species worldwide. Of these, about 100 are poisonous to humans, and over 2000 varieties are edible. The delineation between edible and poisonous mushrooms is not always clear-cut, and some species can be toxic if consumed raw or unprepared correctly. For example, Gyromitra spp., or "false morels," are deadly poisonous if ingested without being properly prepared. Even true morels can cause gastrointestinal issues if eaten raw.
Mushroom poisoning can result from misidentifying a toxic mushroom as an edible species, as some poisonous mushrooms closely resemble edible ones in colour and morphology. For instance, the poisonous Jack O'Lantern Mushroom can be mistaken for the edible Chanterelle. The deadly Amanita phalloides mushroom, also known as the "death cap," resembles the Asian paddy-straw mushroom. Other toxic mushrooms include the Angel's Wings, which was associated with several deaths, and the Amanita family, which includes the Amanita virosa and Amanita bisporigera.
To avoid mushroom poisoning, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with both edible and toxic mushroom species. Some general rules for avoiding poisonous mushrooms include steering clear of those with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem, and a bulbous base. Mushrooms with red on the cap or stem, or those that rapidly stain blue when cut, should also be treated as poisonous. Additionally, it is important to remember that even edible mushrooms can cause allergies or sensitivities in some individuals.
While some mushrooms are poisonous, others have nutritional and culinary benefits. Edible mushrooms include the Giant Puffball, Beefsteak Fungus, Porcelain Fungus, Cauliflower Fungus, Dryad's Saddle, Truffle, Wood Ears, and Chicken of the Woods. Commercial species such as shiitake, straw, oyster, and enoki mushrooms are also commonly consumed.
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Mushrooms are informally categorised as white vegetables
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, distinct from plants and animals. Fungi were once considered primitive plants, but they are now accepted as a separate kingdom based on cellular organization. They lack chlorophyll and exist on decaying material in nature. They also contain chitin, a derivative of glucose found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects, rather than cellulose found in plants.
There are over 2000 varieties of edible mushrooms, but the most familiar to US consumers are of the Agaricus bisporus species: the white button mushroom, crimini, and portabella. Other commercial species include shiitake, straw, oyster, and enoki. Seasonal species such as morels and chanterelles are gathered in the wild and sold in retail stores and farmers' markets.
Mushrooms have an umbrella-shaped structure, with thin, bladelike gills on the undersurface of the cap, from which spores are shed. Some mushrooms have pores or spines underneath instead of gills, and are usually called boletes or hedgehog mushrooms, respectively. The term mushroom is loosely used, and a full account of their classifications can be difficult.
Identifying mushrooms requires an understanding of their macroscopic structure, as well as microscopic examination. Characteristics such as the presence of juices, bruising reactions, odours, tastes, shades of colour, habitat, and season are considered in identification. Tasting and smelling mushrooms can be hazardous due to the presence of poisons and allergens.
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Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and affect the senses
Mushrooms are fungi, distinct from plants and animals. They have been informally categorized as "white vegetables", but they have a unique nutrient profile. There are over 2000 varieties of edible mushrooms, but some are extremely poisonous and can even be deadly.
Some mushrooms are hallucinogenic and are referred to as "magic mushrooms". Magic mushrooms contain the substances psilocybin and psilocin, which are psychoactive and have hallucinogenic effects. They are often consumed as a drug for their hallucinogenic properties. They can be eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea. They can also be mixed with food to mask their bitter taste or crushed into a powder and prepared in capsule form.
The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 to 45 minutes of consumption and can last up to 6 hours. Early symptoms include nausea and excessive yawning, followed by the "trip", which can be mild, leaving one drowsy or relaxed, or more intense, causing hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness. The length and intensity of the trip depend on the strength of the mushrooms, the dosage, and individual factors such as mood, personality, and expectations.
Magic mushrooms affect the senses by altering a person's thinking, sense of time, emotions, and perception. They can cause visual and auditory hallucinations, where one sees or hears things that are not real or are distorted. They can also lead to unpredictable and potentially dangerous behaviour, and in rare cases, large doses can result in severe side effects or even death. It is important to exercise caution when consuming magic mushrooms due to their potential impact on judgment and sense of reality.
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Mushrooms are identified by their macroscopic structure
Mushrooms are fungi, distinct from plants and animals. They are typically identified by their macroscopic structure, which has been used for classification since medieval times. The term "mushroom" is loosely used to describe the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of some fungi. While most mushrooms are gilled, not all are, and some have pores or spines instead. These deviations from the standard morphology often have more specific names, such as "bolete", "truffle", "puffball", "stinkhorn", and "morel".
The macroscopic features used to identify mushrooms include the presence of juices upon breaking, bruising reactions, odors, tastes, shades of color, habitat, habit, and season. Some mushrooms also have a skirt of tissue (called a ring or annulus) around the stem, while others have a cup-like structure (volva) around the base of the stem. These features are remnants of tissues present in the young stages of many mushrooms. The possession of either of these characteristics is very helpful for identification.
The most important microscopic feature for identifying mushrooms is the spores. Their color, shape, size, attachment, ornamentation, and reaction to chemical tests are crucial for identification. The color of the powdery print, called a spore print, is also useful for classifying and identifying mushrooms. Spore print colors include white, brown, black, purple-brown, pink, yellow, and creamy, but rarely blue, green, or red.
While modern identification of mushrooms is increasingly becoming molecular, standard methods are still used by most and are considered an art form. Amateur and professional mycologists use local field guides for identification, which can often identify the genus but require more effort for the species.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are generally multicellular, but some fungi can be unicellular, like yeast.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) and Candida species (the agent of thrush, a common fungal infection) are examples of unicellular fungi.
Most unicellular organisms are microscopic and are classified as microorganisms. Unicellular organisms can also be multinucleate, like Caulerpa, Plasmodium, and Myxogastria.
Unicellular fungi reproduce through mitosis and a process called budding, where most of the cytoplasm is held by the mother cell.
Yes, ciliates are unicellular organisms that are widely abundant in aquatic environments. Examples include Paramecium and Tetrahymena.
