Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. They are neither plants nor animals but constitute their own kingdom: the Fungi. Fungi are eukaryotes, meaning that their cells have a nucleus where DNA is stored. Fungi, like animals, are heterotrophs, acquiring their food by absorbing dissolved molecules. The term mushroom is used to describe a variety of gilled fungi, with or without stems, and there are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America alone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are mushrooms? | Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi. |
| Are all mushrooms fungi? | All mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms. |
| What are some examples of fungi that are not mushrooms? | Yeasts, brackets, jellies, clubs, crusts, cups, corals, molds, rusts, smuts. |
| What are some examples of mushrooms? | Russula or Lactarius mushrooms, hedgehog mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus subrufescens, Ganoderma lucidum, Ophiocordyceps sinensis. |
| What are some characteristics of mushrooms? | Mushrooms have a stem (stipe) and a cap (pileus). They are neither plants nor animals. They have gills (lamellae) that produce microscopic spores. They lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. |
| What are some uses of mushrooms? | Certain mushrooms are used as therapeutic folk medicine practices, such as traditional Chinese medicine. They are also used as food and are a rich source of B vitamins, selenium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. |
| What are some negative impacts of fungi? | Fungi can spoil food and crops, produce harmful mycotoxins, and become pathogens of humans and other animals. |
| What are some positive impacts of fungi? | Fungi are used to make antibiotics and other drugs. They are also used in traditional spiritual ceremonies and to control weeds, plant diseases, and insect pests. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms
Mushrooms are a member of the fungi group, which also includes yeasts and molds. Fungi are neither plants nor animals but constitute their own kingdom. They are classified as one of the traditional eukaryotic kingdoms, along with Animalia, Plantae, and either Protista or Protozoa and Chromista. Fungi are characterised by the presence of chitin in their cell walls and their ability to acquire food by absorbing dissolved molecules. They do not photosynthesize and instead rely on growth for mobility.
Mushrooms, specifically, are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. The spores are produced on the gills of the mushroom and are released in a fine rain of powder. These spores help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, which has a stem (or stipe), a cap (or pileus), and gills (or lamellae) on the underside of the cap.
However, not all fungi present in this form. Some fungi, like yeasts, do not develop mushrooms to spread their spores but are still considered fungi. Other types of fungi include brackets, jellies, clubs, crusts, corals, rusts, smuts, and puffballs, which differ in shape and growth patterns. The term mushroom is loosely used to refer to a variety of gilled fungi, with or without stems, and other macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies.
Mushrooms play important roles in nature and for humans. They are a source of food and nutrition, as well as therapeutic properties in folk medicine practices. Additionally, they are used in the production of antibiotics and other drugs, as well as in the fermentation process for bread, wine, and beer.
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Mushrooms are used in folk medicine and to make bread and alcohol
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, specifically a multicellular fungus. They have been used in folk medicine for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks used the amadou mushroom as an anti-inflammatory and for cauterizing wounds. Traditional Chinese medicine has also long incorporated mushrooms, including Agaricus subrufescens and Ganoderma lucidum. In modern times, mushrooms have been studied for their deep medicinal properties, which are likely due to their relationship with microbes.
In addition to their use in folk medicine, mushrooms are also used to make bread and alcohol. For bread-making, mushrooms are first sautéed with onions in butter and soy sauce. Once cooled, this mixture is added to a dough made with yeast, yogurt, honey, salt, and flour. The dough is then kneaded, shaped into loaves, and baked.
As for alcohol production, mushrooms can be boiled and distilled into an organic sugar-like powder, which can then be fed to yeast to create alcohol. Yeast, itself a type of fungus, feeds on sugars or starches and excretes ethyl alcohol as a byproduct. While mushrooms may not be the primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages, they can be used to infuse or brew beer, wine, or liquor.
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Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals, they are part of the Fungi kingdom
Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. They are part of the Fungi kingdom, which also includes yeasts, molds, smuts, and rusts. Fungi are a unique branch on the tree of life, distinct from plants and animals, and are more closely related to animals than plants. Fungi are eukaryotes, meaning they have a nucleus in their cells where DNA is stored, a characteristic shared by plants and animals. However, a key difference is that fungi contain chitin in their cell walls, which sets them apart from plants, bacteria, and some protists.
Fungi, including mushrooms, do not photosynthesize like plants. Instead, they are heterotrophs, acquiring their food by absorbing dissolved molecules and secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. This is another trait that fungi share with animals. Fungi play a crucial role in breaking down dead organic matter, such as leaf litter and fallen branches, and they can also break down manufactured materials and buildings.
Mushrooms specifically are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of certain fungi. They typically have a stem (stipe) and a cap (pileus), with gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap that produce microscopic spores. These spores help the fungus spread and grow. Mushrooms develop from a small nodule called a primordium, which enlarges into a round structure called a "button." As the mushroom grows, a veil-like tissue called the universal veil ruptures, leaving remnants such as a cup-like structure called a volva at the base of the stalk.
The term "mushroom" is loosely used to describe a variety of fungal fruiting bodies, and not all fungi form mushrooms. Some have different shapes, such as pores, spines, or other unique characteristics. Mushrooms can be edible, poisonous, or unpalatable, and they have been used in folk medicine practices and as a food source. They also play a vital role in ecosystems, particularly in mutualistic relationships with plants, helping them absorb water and minerals.
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Mushrooms have spores, which are almost as fine as smoke
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. They 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 of interwoven hyphae, called a "button".
Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke. These spores are called basidiospores and are produced on the gills. They fall in a fine rain of powder from under the caps as a result. At the microscopic level, the basidiospores are shot off basidia and then fall between the gills in the dead air space.
The gills of the mushrooms produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The spores of most researched species of fungi are transported by wind. Such species often produce dry or hydrophobic spores that do not absorb water and are readily scattered by raindrops.
When spores land in a suitable place, they germinate, developing the fine filaments that eventually become a new mycelium. Mushrooms usually don't last very long. Once they've shed their spores, they collapse and deteriorate.
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Some mushrooms are edible, some are poisonous
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. The term "mushroom" is used to describe a variety of gilled fungi, with or without stems. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. However, the term is also used more generally to refer to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies, rather than a precise taxonomic category.
Given the diversity of forms that mushrooms can take, it is not surprising that some are edible, some are poisonous, and some are unpalatable. It is important to be able to distinguish between these categories, especially since some poisonous mushrooms closely resemble edible ones. For example, the deadly webcap (Cortinarius rubellus) and the fool's webcap (Cortinarius orellanus) are similar in appearance to edible varieties. These mushrooms contain orellanin, a poison that causes kidney failure and death if left untreated. Similarly, the autumn skullcap (Galerina marginata) is sometimes mistaken for hallucinogenic mushrooms, but it is poisonous and can be deadly if eaten.
Another example is the destroying angel (Amanita verna), a species of all-white mushrooms that closely resemble edible button mushrooms and meadow mushrooms. These mushrooms are incredibly toxic and have been mistakenly collected and consumed on numerous occasions. In fact, Amanita bisporigera is considered the most toxic North American mushroom. Other toxic mushrooms in the Amanita family include Amanita virosa and Amanita eggs, which develop from little balls and eventually emerge from a sack-like structure.
To avoid poisonous mushrooms, it is recommended to stay away from 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, stem, or pores should also be avoided, as should any that rapidly stain blue when cut in half vertically. While these guidelines may help rule out some dangerous mushrooms, it is important to note that they do not guarantee safety. For example, some edible mushrooms also have red caps, so further tests are needed to establish edibility. One such test is the taste test, which involves placing a tiny amount of the mushroom on the tongue. If it burns like chilli, the mushroom is poisonous, but if it has a pleasant mushroomy taste, it is likely safe to eat.
Some other examples of edible mushrooms include the Giant Puffball (when fresh), the Yellow Morel, the Shaggy Mane, and Chanterelles. However, it is important to exercise caution when foraging for mushrooms, as even edible varieties may cause allergies or sensitivities in certain individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
A mushroom is a fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source.
Yes, mushrooms are a type of fungus. Fungi include other microorganisms such as yeasts, molds, smuts, and rusts.
Toadstool generally refers to a poisonous mushroom.
Mushrooms develop from a nodule, or pinhead, called a primordium, which is typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. It is formed within the mycelium, the mass of thread-like hyphae that make up the fungus.
