Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, but not all fungi are mushrooms. A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. 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. However, not all fungi have these characteristics, and some mushrooms do not have gills. Fungi are a diverse group of organisms with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies, and they play important roles in nature and for humans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus. |
| Structure | Mushrooms typically have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. |
| Spores | Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke, to spread and reproduce. |
| Ecology | Mushrooms can grow in soil, on living trees, or on rotting wood. They play a vital role in nature by breaking down dead materials. |
| Edibility | Mushrooms may be edible, poisonous, or unpalatable. |
| Nutrition | Raw mushrooms are mostly water, with some carbohydrates, protein, and small amounts of fat. They provide various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. |
| Taxonomy | Mushrooms belong to the kingdom Fungi, which includes a diverse range of taxa with varied ecologies, life cycle strategies, and morphologies. |
| Fungal Relationship | Some fungi are parasitic, while others form mutually beneficial relationships with plants, helping them absorb water and minerals. |
| Yeast | Yeast is a type of fungus used in bread and beer production and to make blue cheese blue. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are a type of fungus
Mushrooms 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". The button is surrounded by a cottony roll of mycelium, the universal veil, which ruptures as the egg expands. Many mushrooms lack a universal veil and, therefore, do not have a volva or volval patches.
Mushrooms produce spores, which are dispersed through the gills on the underside of the cap. These spores help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The delineation between edible and poisonous fungi is not clear-cut, so a "mushroom" may be edible, poisonous, or unpalatable. Toadstool generally refers to a poisonous mushroom.
Fungi are eukaryotes, meaning that, like plants and animals, their cells have a nucleus where DNA is stored. They are also heterotrophs, which means they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Fungi do not have chloroplasts that photosynthesize, and unlike plants, they cannot produce their own energy through photosynthesis. Fungi have cell walls made rigid with chitin, which is also found in the exoskeletons of insects.
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Not all fungi are mushrooms
While all mushrooms are a type of fungus, not all fungi are mushrooms. Mushrooms are a fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. They have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap, which produce microscopic spores to help the fungus spread.
However, the term "mushroom" is loosely used and does not have a precise taxonomic meaning. For example, some mushrooms do not have gills, and instead have pores underneath (boletes), or spines (tooth fungi). The term "mushroom" is also used to describe polypores, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, bracket fungi, stinkhorns, and cup fungi.
Fungi encompass a diverse range of organisms, including yeasts and molds, as well as mushrooms. They are characterised by being eukaryotes with cell walls containing chitin, and obtaining nutrients by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment. Some fungi, such as yeasts, do not develop mushrooms but are still consumed by humans in bread, beer, and blue cheese. Other fungi create antibiotics and other drugs, such as penicillin.
Fungi play a vital role in nature as decomposers, breaking down dead materials and keeping ecosystems from being overwhelmed by leaf litter and fallen branches. Some fungi form mutually beneficial relationships with plants, helping them absorb water and minerals, while the plants provide nutrients for the fungi. This relationship is essential for the survival of many trees, orchids, and other plants.
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Yeast, mould, and blue cheese are also fungi
A mushroom is a fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. However, the term "mushroom" is loosely used, and a full account of their classifications is difficult.
Moulds are also members of the fungus kingdom. They are ubiquitous, and their spores are a common component of household and workplace dust. Moulds can grow on dead organic matter everywhere in nature, but they are usually only visible to the unaided eye when they form large colonies. Moulds play important roles in biotechnology and food science in the production of various pigments, foods, beverages, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and enzymes.
Blue cheese is made with mould from the same family of spores used to make penicillin. This mould is not only safe for human consumption but may even be healthy.
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Mushrooms are short-lived, but the mycelium underneath can be long-lived
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi. They typically grow above ground on soil or another food source, such as decaying wood or living trees. Fungi, on the other hand, are a separate branch of life from plants and animals, characterised by their eukaryotic cells and heterotrophic mode of nutrition. Fungi do not have chloroplasts for photosynthesis and instead obtain their energy and nutrients by digesting other substances. They also contain chitin, a hard material found in insect exoskeletons, which allows them to grow through solid surfaces.
While mushrooms are short-lived, the underlying mycelium can be long-lived. The mycelium is a mass of thread-like hyphae that make up the fungus. It forms a mat-like or net-like network of filaments infusing a patch of soil, wood, or other substrates. When conditions are favourable, the mycelium develops a fruiting structure, which emerges as a mushroom. This process occurs underground or beneath the bark of dead or living trees, making it difficult to observe the entire life cycle of mushrooms.
The short lifespan of mushrooms contrasts with the longevity of the mycelium. Once mushrooms shed their spores, they collapse and deteriorate. However, the mycelium can persist and even form massive colonies. For example, a colony of Armillaria solidipes in the Malheur National Forest in the United States is estimated to be over 2,400 years old and spans across 2,200 acres.
The distinction between mushrooms and fungi lies in their structural characteristics. Mushrooms have a specific morphology that includes a stem (stipe) and a cap (pileus), with gills (lamellae) underneath the cap. While most fungi classified as mushrooms conform to this structure, there are exceptions. Some mushrooms lack gills and instead have pores, spines, or other unique features. Therefore, the term mushroom is loosely defined and is based on the macroscopic appearance of fungal fruiting bodies rather than precise taxonomic distinctions.
In summary, mushrooms represent the fleeting fruiting stage in the life cycle of certain fungi. While mushrooms themselves are short-lived, the underlying mycelium can persist for extended periods, forming expansive fungal colonies. This knowledge highlights the intricate and resilient nature of fungal growth, with the mycelium serving as the enduring foundation from which mushrooms briefly emerge.
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Mushrooms are not plants or animals
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, but not all fungi are mushrooms. A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. They are usually gilled, with a stem (stipe) and a cap (pileus). However, some mushrooms do not have gills, and the term "mushroom" is used loosely to describe a variety of fungal fruiting bodies.
Another key difference between fungi and plants is that fungal cell walls contain chitin, a hard material found in the exoskeletons of insects, rather than cellulose, which is found in plant cell walls. Additionally, fungal cells typically have half of a full set of DNA, while plant and animal cells usually have a full set, with only eggs and sperm cells having half sets.
Fungi play important roles in nature and for humans. They are responsible for breaking down dead organic materials, such as leaves and fallen trees, and some fungi form mutually beneficial relationships with the roots of plants, helping them absorb water and minerals. Fungi are also used in various human applications, such as in the production of blue cheese, antibiotics, and other drugs.
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Frequently asked questions
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source.
A fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. Fungi are neither plants nor animals. They have cell walls made rigid with chitin, and they do not produce their own energy through photosynthesis.
Yes, all mushrooms are fungi. However, not all fungi are mushrooms. Mushrooms are fungi with a stem (called a stipe) and a cap.
Mushrooms 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". As the egg expands, the universal veil ruptures and may remain as a cup, or volva, at the base of the stalk.
