Sarah Brown
Mushrooms have developed many creative and fascinating spore dispersal methods. Some mushrooms simply drop or eject their spores from their gills, pores, or teeth, allowing critters, water, or a light breeze to carry them off. The pores of a mushroom appear as small, sponge-like holes on the underside of the cap. Some pores can be a few millimetres wide, while others are so small that the bottom of the cap appears smooth. The pores of a bolete mushroom hold the mushroom spores. Boletes and polypores are two common types of mushrooms known to have pores.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | A few millimeters wide |
| Appearance | Small holes on the underside of the cap |
| Function | Spores dispersal |
| Types of Mushrooms | Boletes, Polypores, Chanterelle, Bolete, Common Puffball, Stinkhorn, Chaga, Lycoperdon perlatum, Bracket Fungi, Chicken of the Woods, Birch Bracket, Dryad's Saddle, Artist's Conk, Turkey Tail, Beefsteak Fungus, Sulfur Shelf, Ganoderma applanatum, Fomes fomentarius, Phellinus igniarius, Elmerina holophaea, Lenzites betulina, Porotheleum fimbriatum, Echinodontium tinctorium, Irpex lacteus, Fomes fomentarius, Inocutis rhaedes, Tapinella, Morchella |
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What You'll Learn
- Some mushroom pores are a few millimetres wide
- Pores can be so small that the underside of the cap looks smooth
- Bolete and Polypore mushrooms are two common types of mushrooms with pores
- Mushrooms with pores release spores through the small holes on the underside of the cap
- Mushroom pores can be used to identify the species, colour, size, pattern, and quantity
Some mushroom pores are a few millimetres wide
Mushrooms have developed many creative and fascinating methods for dispersing their spores. Some simply drop or eject their spores from their gills, pores, or teeth, allowing critters, water, or a light breeze to carry them off to their new destination. Some have evolved in interesting ways to encourage maximum spore dispersal, such as the common puffball, stinkhorn, and chaga mushrooms. The Lycoperdon perlatum, also known as the common puffball, is one of them. They have one large pore at the top of their cap for releasing spores. When something bumps into them, like raindrops or small animals, a large number of spores are ejected in a smoke-like cloud.
The common appearance of the mushroom anatomy that most people are familiar with consists of a cap and stem. The mushroom cap, also known as the pileus, is the structure on top of the mushroom that holds the gills or pores. They come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. Mushroom caps can be smooth or covered with scales or teeth. Since their shape is unique from species to species, doing research on specific mushroom species will be helpful for identification.
Other types of mushrooms have pores instead of gills. Like gills, pores produce spores, but they appear as small, sponge-like holes instead of thin blades. The little holes lead to tubes inside the cap. The pores of a bolete mushroom hold the mushroom spores. Bolete mushrooms are characterised by a fleshy, typically convex cap and almost always a porous or spongy underside instead of gills, although there are some boletes with gills.
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Pores can be so small that the underside of the cap looks smooth
Mushrooms can have a wide range of physical differences, with some mushrooms having caps that are smooth, while others are covered in scales or teeth. The underside of the cap can have gills, ridges, or pores. Some mushrooms have false gills, which appear forked but are actually ridges that cannot be individually picked off. False gills can be found on the chanterelle and pig's ear mushrooms.
Mushroom pores are small holes on the underside of the cap that are used for spore dispersal. Some mushrooms have pores that are a few millimetres wide, while others have pores that are so small that the underside of the cap looks smooth. The size, colour, pattern, and quantity of pores can help determine the identity of a mushroom. For example, bolete mushrooms are characterised by their pores, which hold the mushroom spores, and can be identified by the number of pores per millimetre. Boletes are mycorrhizal and form symbiotic relationships with the roots of trees, so they are usually found on the ground near trees.
Polypores, also called bracket or shelf fungi, are another group of mushrooms with pores. They form large fruiting bodies called conks, which are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. Polypores are almost always found growing on rotting wood, tree trunks, or branches, and most are edible or at least non-toxic. However, some polypores have been known to cause poisoning, so it is important to properly identify mushrooms before consuming them.
Overall, the size of mushroom pores can vary, with some being so small that the underside of the cap looks smooth, and this is an important feature for identifying different types of mushrooms.
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Bolete and Polypore mushrooms are two common types of mushrooms with pores
Boletes are generally found in woodlands, growing out of the ground, and making symbiotic relationships with trees in deciduous and coniferous forests. They have a cap and a stem, with a soft fleshy pore surface under the cap. The pore layer is easily separated from the flesh of the cap, and the mushroom feels soft enough to chew easily. The pores have a “veiny” structure, and the stem is always off-centre. Some boletes are edible and considered a delicacy, like the porcini or king bolete (Boletus edulis). However, some are bitter or poisonous, like the Satan's bolete (Rubroboletus satanas).
Polypores, on the other hand, are usually found growing on rotting wood, often on the sides of trees without stems. They are typically tougher and harder than boletes, with a texture as firm as leather or even wood. Their pores cannot usually be easily removed from the rest of the mushroom. Polypores are often called bracket or shelf fungi, forming large fruiting bodies called conks, which are woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. Some polypores are edible and used in medicine, like the lingzhi mushroom, while others are poisonous, like the genus Hapalopilus.
Both types of mushrooms are easily distinguishable from gilled mushrooms, as the gills can be easily plucked from the underside of the cap. However, some mushrooms have false gills or ridges, which cannot be easily detached.
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Mushrooms with pores release spores through the small holes on the underside of the cap
Mushrooms have evolved many creative and fascinating methods for dispersing their spores. Some simply drop or eject their spores from their gills, pores, or teeth, allowing critters, water, or a light breeze to carry them off to their new destination. Mushrooms with pores release spores through the small holes on the underside of the cap. These pores appear as small, sponge-like holes instead of thin blades. The little holes lead to tubes inside the cap. The pores of a bolete mushroom hold the mushroom spores. Boletes and polypores are two common types of mushrooms known to have pores.
Bolete mushrooms are characterised by a fleshy, typically convex cap and almost always a porous or spongy underside instead of gills, although there are some boletes with gills. They are often found in forested areas and can range in colour from brown to red to blue. Boletes are mycorrhizal, meaning they form symbiotic relationships with the roots of trees. Thus they are mainly found growing on the ground near trees, usually in the summer. Most boletes have a stalk, an umbrella-shaped top, and disperse spores through the small pores underneath the cap. This pore-laden area beneath the cap is often quite spongy. Some boletes, such as the porcini mushroom (Boletus edulis), are considered choice edibles. However, do not assume any bolete that you find is edible! Take the time to make a positive identification.
Polypores, also called bracket or shelf fungi, are a morphological group of basidiomycete-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi that form large fruiting bodies called conks, which are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. Bracket fungi are defined by their growth form rather than phylogeny, and the name "polypore" is derived from the Greek words "poly", meaning "much" or "many", and "poros", meaning "pore". Polypores almost always grow on wood and never on the ground. They are found on rotting trees, stumps, and logs. Turkey tail is an example of a polypore. They are a type of healthy mushroom that grows flat off the sides of decaying wood and fans out as they mature. As they grow, they develop rings of different shades of brown and white that make them resemble a turkey's tail. Like the turkey tail, other polypores are usually shelf-shaped and non-poisonous. Most polypores are edible or at least non-toxic, although one genus of polypores has members that are poisonous.
The size of mushroom pores can vary. Some pores can be a few millimetres wide, while others can be so small that the bottom of the cap looks smooth. For boletes and other fungi with pores, it is conventional to express pore size as the number of pores per millimetre.
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Mushroom pores can be used to identify the species, colour, size, pattern, and quantity
While identifying mushrooms, it is important to note the presence of pores or gills. Some mushrooms have pores instead of gills, and these pores produce spores. They appear as small holes on the underside of the cap, which is also known as the pileus. These holes are the exit routes for spores, which are produced on the sides of the tubes within the mushroom cap. The spores then fall out of the tubes, through the pore, and into the air, where they are carried by wind, animals, and insects.
The size of the pores can vary, ranging from a few millimetres wide to so small that the bottom of the cap looks smooth. The colour, size, pattern, and quantity of pores are all traits that can help identify the species of the mushroom. For instance, boletes and polypores are two common types of mushrooms known to have pores. Boletes have a stalk and an umbrella-shaped top, with spores dispersed through small pores underneath the cap. Polypores, on the other hand, are usually found growing on rotting wood and have a distinct fruiting body with pores on their undersurface. They are also called bracket fungi because of their resemblance to shelves or brackets.
Mushroom identification is a complex task, and it is important to use a guidebook or key to accurately identify the species. One must also be aware that certain features, such as pore colour, may change as the mushroom ages or is cut or bruised. Additionally, the shape of the cap, which can vary from species to species, can be a helpful indicator. For example, mushrooms in the Stropharia genus are characterised by colourful, sticky caps, while those in the Tapinella genus have reddish-brown to dark brown velvety caps.
Furthermore, the method of spore dispersal is another useful trait to examine when identifying mushrooms. This refers to how the mushroom produces and distributes its spores. By understanding the different structures involved in spore dispersal, such as gills, pores, and teeth, one can gain valuable knowledge for mushroom identification. It is also recommended to make a spore print of the mushroom, as this can provide additional information for identification.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom pores can vary in size, with some being a few millimeters wide and others being so small that the bottom of the cap looks smooth.
Mushroom pores are small holes on the underside of the cap that are used for spore dispersal.
Two common groups of mushrooms with pores are boletes (the Boletus genus) and polypores.
To identify a mushroom with pores, you can examine traits such as its habitat, spore print color, and physical characteristics like cap shape and texture.
Unlike gills, which are thin blades, pores appear as small, sponge-like holes that lead to tubes inside the cap. Gills can be easily detached from the mushroom, while pores are molded into the mushroom itself.
