John Miller
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The cap of a mushroom is the rounded, often umbrella-shaped top of the fruiting body. The cap is supported by a stem, which can vary in length and thickness. The underside of the cap is lined with gills, which contain the spores of the mushroom. These spores are dispersed when the cap is disturbed or when the mushroom is mature. Some mushrooms, such as the parasol mushroom, have distinct bosses or umbos (knobby protrusions at the center of the cap), while others, like chanterelles, have a funnel or trumpet shape. Mushrooms also play an important role in nature by aiding in the cleanup of polluted sites through a process called mycoremediation. For example, the shaggy ink cap mushroom can hyperaccumulate toxic metals like cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, helping to restore the soil's pH.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shape | Rounded, often umbrella-shaped, or bell-shaped |
| Underside | Lined with gills, which are thin, ribbed structures that radiate out from the stem |
| Gills | Contain spores, which are dispersed when the cap is disturbed or the mushroom is mature |
| Species variation | Some species have pores instead of gills; pore-bearing mushrooms have a flat or slightly convex cap with a spongy underside covered in tiny holes |
| Stem | Typically cylindrical, varying in length and thickness; may have rings or scales, or a veil that covers the gills when the mushroom is young |
| Spores | Secreted as a black liquid in some species, such as the shaggy ink cap |
| Protrusions | Some mushrooms have a distinct boss or umbo (a knobby protrusion at the center of the cap) |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are the fruiting body of fungi
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. The term "mushroom" is commonly applied to those fungi that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. However, the term can also be used more loosely to describe a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems.
The gills of mushrooms produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. These spores are dispersed for reproduction and can also be used for mycoremediation, a process where mushrooms are used to clean up polluted landscapes by bioaccumulating toxic metals in the soil.
Mushrooms develop from a small 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". As the mushroom continues to grow, the button ruptures and may leave a remnant at the base of the stalk or on the cap.
The underlying mycelium of a mushroom can be long-lived and massive, even when the fruiting bodies themselves are short-lived. A colony of Armillaria solidipes in the Malheur National Forest in the United States, for example, is estimated to be 2,400 years old and spans 2,200 acres.
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The underside of the cap contains spores
The underside of a mushroom cap is lined with gills, which are thin, ribbed structures that radiate out from the stem. These gills contain the spores of the mushroom, which are released when the cap is disturbed or when the mushroom is mature. Mushrooms with a veil that covers the gills when they are young will have a ring-like structure left on the stem as the cap expands and the veil tears.
Some mushrooms have pores instead of gills. These pore-bearing mushrooms have a flat or slightly convex cap with a spongy underside covered in tiny holes. Their spores are released through these pores rather than gills.
The Shaggy Ink Cap (Coprinus comatus), for example, is a common edible mushroom found in North American and European grasslands. As it matures, it secretes a black liquid filled with spores. This mushroom has been found to hyperaccumulate the toxic metals cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.
Another mushroom with a distinctive cap is the parasol mushroom, which has a distinct boss or umbo—a knobby protrusion at the center of the cap. Chanterelle mushrooms, on the other hand, have a funnel or trumpet-shaped appearance.
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Mushrooms can have rings, scales, or veils
Mushrooms can have a variety of features that aid in their identification, including rings, scales, or veils. These structures develop at different stages of the mushroom's life cycle and serve various purposes.
Rings, or annulus, are formed when the partial veil breaks away from the cap as the mushroom matures. This hanging part is called the annulus, and it can take on different forms, such as a skirt-like ring, a rigid horizontal ring, or a sheathing ring that resembles an upswept vase. The position and type of ring can be crucial in identifying mushroom species.
Some mushrooms also have universal veils that encapsulate them entirely during early development. As the mushroom matures, the universal veil breaks off, leaving remnants such as patches or warts on the cap and a cup-like structure called the volva at the base. Both the universal veil and partial veil are important in mushroom taxonomy, helping to distinguish between different genera and species.
Mushroom caps can also be covered in scales, which are hard-shelled protections that form during growth. Scales often appear as a result of cracking as the cap expands, but they can also be present in immature mushrooms. Like rings and veils, scales contribute to the unique physical appearance of mushrooms and can be useful in identifying different species.
The presence, absence, and characteristics of these structures can provide valuable clues for identifying mushrooms. It is important to observe mushrooms at various growth stages, as veil remnants can wash away with rain, fade with sun exposure, or be eaten by insects over time.
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Caps can be funnel- or trumpet-shaped
The cap of a mushroom is one of its most distinctive features, and it serves to protect the delicate gills, pores, and spore-producing structures underneath. The shape of the cap plays a crucial role in attracting various agents of spore dispersal, aiding in the reproductive success of the fungi.
While the most familiar mushroom cap shape is hemispherical or convex, caps can also be funnel- or trumpet-shaped. This shape is characteristic of tooth fungi, which are identified by their tooth-like projections on the underside of their caps, rather than traditional gills. These mushrooms are typically found in a range of colours, from brown to orange to yellow.
Funnel-shaped caps are also observed in the Cantharellus and Craterellus species, which are known as "woodwaxes" in the UK and "waxy caps" in North America. The caps of these mushrooms are usually smooth and become sticky when damp. They are often found with rings on the stem and scales on the cap.
The shape of a mushroom cap can change over the course of its developmental cycle, and some mushrooms, such as the shaggy ink cap (Coprinus comatus), start with a cylindrical cap that becomes bell-shaped as the mushroom matures.
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Mushrooms can be used to clean up polluted landscapes
Mycoremediation is a natural and sustainable environmental cleanup method. It can be used to clean up soil contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic substances, as well as water bodies polluted by industrial runoff, oil spills, and agricultural chemicals. The oyster mushroom, for example, has been used to remediate oil-contaminated soil. Fungi can also be used to clean up radioactive waste, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods.
In addition to their ability to absorb and break down pollutants, fungi also improve soil health by enhancing its structure and nutrient content, creating a more favorable environment for other organisms to thrive. This makes mycoremediation particularly useful for restoring the health and fertility of soil, as well as for agricultural waste management, accelerating the composting process, and improving soil fertility.
Mycoremediation can also be applied to the cleanup of industrial waste, brownfields (abandoned industrial sites), and urban pollution mitigation. It has been shown to be a cost-effective method for treating hazardous substances, as it is easier to harvest and dispose of mushrooms that have accumulated toxins than it is to excavate and relocate tons of contaminated soil. Mycoremediation can also be used in combination with other strategies to heal complex, toxic, and deeply damaged landscapes, such as those affected by conflict or ecological sensitivity.
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Frequently asked questions
The cap of a mushroom is the rounded, often umbrella-shaped top of the fruiting body.
The underside of the cap is lined with gills, which are thin, ribbed structures that radiate out from the stem. Some species of mushrooms have pores instead of gills.
The gills contain the spores of the mushroom, which are dispersed when the cap is disturbed or when the mushroom is mature.
Pore-bearing mushrooms have a flat or slightly convex cap with a spongy underside covered in tiny holes.
Mushrooms aid in cleaning up polluted sites. For example, the Shaggy Ink Cap has been found to hyperaccumulate the toxic metals cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.
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