Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they are not plants, nor are they animals. They are fungi, constituting their own kingdom. They are biologically distinct from plant- and animal-derived foods and have unique nutrient, health, and culinary characteristics. There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be gilled, or have pores, spines, or teeth underneath. Some mushrooms are edible, while others are poisonous. In this lecture, we will delve into the fascinating world of mushrooms, exploring their identification, classification, and role in nature and human life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are the umbrella-shaped fruiting bodies of certain fungi, typically of the order Agaricales in the phylum Basidiomycota. |
| Identification | Identification of mushrooms involves understanding their macroscopic structure, including the presence of gills, pores, spines, or other characteristics. Molecular identification methods are also used. |
| Classification | Mushrooms are classified based on their morphology, with specific names like "bolete", "truffle", "puffball", and "agarics". The term "mushroom" is loosely used for various fungal fruiting bodies. |
| Species | There are approximately 14,000 described species of mushrooms, including common ones like fairy-ring, shiitake, enoki, oyster, and magic mushrooms. |
| Ecology | Mushrooms grow from small nodules called primordia, typically found near the surface of a substrate. They develop into round structures called "buttons" before maturing. |
| Foraging | Proper collection and foraging practices are important, as some mushrooms are edible, some are medicinal, and others are toxic. Identification guides and knowledge of safe practices are essential. |
| Communication | Mushrooms exhibit electrical impulses that may resemble a form of communication, with patterns resembling "words" and "sentences". However, the interpretation of these signals is still under study. |
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What You'll Learn
Identifying mushrooms
While modern identification of mushrooms is quickly becoming molecular, standard methods are still used by most. The presence of juices, bruising reactions, odours, tastes, shades of colour, habitat, habit, and season are all considered by both amateur and professional mycologists. Tasting and smelling mushrooms carry their own hazards due to poisons and allergens. Chemical tests are also used for some genera. In general, identification to genus can often be accomplished in the field using a local field guide. Identification to species, however, requires more effort. A mushroom develops from a button stage into a mature structure, and only the latter can provide certain characteristics needed for the identification of the species.
Mushrooms that are not gilled make identification more difficult, and the term "mushroom" is loosely used. Some have pores underneath (and are usually called boletes), while others have spines, such as the hedgehog mushroom and other tooth fungi. "Mushroom" has also been used for polypores, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, bracket fungi, stinkhorns, and cup fungi. Thus, the term is more one of common application to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies than one having precise taxonomic meaning.
The agarics and boletes include most of the forms known as mushrooms, but other groups of fungi are considered mushrooms by laymen. Among these are the hydnums or hedgehog mushrooms, which have teeth, spines, or warts on the undersurface of the cap or at the ends of branches. The polypores, shelf fungi, or bracket fungi (order Polyporales) have tubes under the cap as in the boletes, but they are not in an easily separable layer. Polypores usually grow on living or dead trees, sometimes as destructive pests. Many of them renew growth each year and thus produce annual growth layers by which their age can be estimated.
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Edible, medicinal, and toxic species
Mushrooms are a recognised component of the human diet, with versatile medicinal properties. There are around 14,000 known species of mushrooms, with 7,000 considered to have varying levels of edibility and more than 2,000 species that are safe to eat.
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy fruit bodies of numerous species of macrofungi (fungi that bear fruiting structures large enough to be seen with the naked eye). Edibility is defined by the absence of poisonous effects on humans and a desirable taste and aroma. Some mushrooms that are edible for most people can cause allergic reactions in others, so it is recommended that only small quantities are consumed when eating a new type of mushroom for the first time. Edible mushrooms include the wild mushroom Cantharellus cibarius, which is predominantly found in Turkey, and the prized Chanterelle. The oyster mushroom, which is enriched with proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins, is another example of an edible mushroom.
Some mushrooms are toxic and can cause serious health issues, including liver failure, bradycardia, chest pain, seizures, gastroenteritis, intestinal fibrosis, renal failure, erythromelalgia, and rhabdomyolysis. Amatoxin-containing fungi, which are found within the families Amanitaceae (genus Amanita), Agaricaceae (genus Lepiota), and Cortinariaceae (genus Galerina), are powerful thermostable poisons. The most potent amatoxin is α-amanitine. The death cap (Amanita phalloides) is a deadly poisonous mushroom that is frequently confused with edible mushrooms. Other toxic mushrooms include Amanita muscaria, which causes vomiting, twitching, drowsiness, and hallucinations, and Gyromitra esculenta (false morel), which is eaten by some after parboiling but is not recommended by many mycologists.
Medicinal mushrooms possess strong therapeutic and biological activities, with pharmacological properties including antidiabetic, antioxidative, antiviral, antibacterial, osteoprotective, and nephroprotective properties. Examples of medicinal mushrooms include Termitomyces heimii, an edible mushroom grown in sub-Saharan Africa, and Agaricus bisporus, which is cultivated in northern Serbia and possesses antitumor and antiproliferative activity.
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How to collect and study mushrooms
Mushrooms are a fascinating type of fungus that have been consumed by humans for thousands of years. Collecting and studying mushrooms can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it's important to follow certain guidelines to ensure safety and sustainability. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to collect and study mushrooms:
Collecting Mushrooms:
- Join a mycological society: One of the best ways to learn about mushroom picking is to join a local mycological society. These societies often organise forays to local parks where you can learn from experienced mushroom pickers. They may also host dinners, lectures, and workshops related to mushrooms.
- Purchase field guides: Invest in at least one general book on mycology and one field guide specific to your region. The general book will cover the fundamentals of mushroom picking, while the field guide will provide region-specific tips. Some recommended books include "How to Identify Edible Mushrooms" by Tony Lion and Gill Tomblin, and "Mushrooms" by Roger Phillips.
- Identify mushrooms: Before picking mushrooms, it's crucial to accurately identify them. Examine the shape, texture, and gills of the mushroom. Use your sense of smell to identify any distinctive odours. Compare your observations with the descriptions in your field guide.
- Bring the right equipment: When you go out to collect mushrooms, bring a basket or a porous cloth bag. Avoid using plastic bags as they prevent spore dispersal. You may also want to bring a knife or scissors for cutting the mushrooms.
- Pick sustainably: When you find a patch of mushrooms, leave the smallest 50% untouched. If mushrooms are growing in pairs, only pick one. Try to identify mushrooms without picking them, as uprooting inedible mushrooms can harm mycological diversity. Dispose of any trimmings and waste in a similar habitat to where you found the mushrooms.
- Cutting vs. pulling: There are two main methods for picking mushrooms: cutting or pulling. One school of thought advocates cutting the fruit bodies where they join the ground to avoid damaging the delicate mycelium. Others prefer to twist and pull the mushroom, arguing that it prevents the residual stump from rotting and infecting the mycelium. Ultimately, practical experience shows that different techniques work better for different species.
Studying Mushrooms:
- Microscopic examination: To study mushrooms further, you can purchase a microscope to examine spore prints. This allows you to delve into the microscopic world of spores and mycelium.
- Online resources: Utilise online resources such as MushroomExpert.com, which provides a key to help you identify the species of mushrooms you've collected. Additionally, YouTube videos and online forums can provide a wealth of information, but be cautious of misleading or inaccurate content.
- Formal education: Consider taking applied or lab-focused courses that offer hands-on experience in mycology. While formal education in mycology is limited, some universities offer programs or classes specialising in this field.
- Connect with experts: Attend lectures, workshops, or meetings where mycologists or commercial mushroom growers are present. Don't be afraid to ask questions and learn from their expertise.
- Practice identification: The more you familiarise yourself with various mushroom species, the better you'll become at identifying them. Consider purchasing books specifically focused on mushroom identification, such as "How to Identify Edible Mushrooms."
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The history of the term 'mushroom'
The terms "mushroom" and "toadstool" are centuries-old and have never been precisely defined, with no consensus on their application. During the 15th and 16th centuries, variations such as "mushrom," "muscheron," "mousheroms," and "musserouns" were used. The term "mushroom" may have French origins, derived from the word "mousseron," which refers to moss ("mousse"). However, the word "toadstool" first appeared in 14th-century England, possibly implying an inedible, poisonous fungus, a connotation that persists today.
While the agarics and boletes comprise most of the forms recognised as mushrooms, other groups of fungi are also considered mushrooms by non-experts. These include hedgehog mushrooms, which have teeth, spines, or warts on the undersurface of their caps, and polypores, or shelf/bracket fungi, which grow on trees and can be destructive pests. The term "mushroom" is loosely applied to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies rather than having a precise taxonomic meaning.
The word "mushroom" is broadly applied to various fungal fruiting bodies, including polypores, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, bracket fungi, stinkhorns, and cup fungi. While some mushrooms have gills, others feature pores, spines, or other structures underneath their caps. This diversity underscores the challenge of providing a precise definition for the term "mushroom."
The history of the term "mushroom" reflects a long-standing effort to categorise and understand these fascinating organisms. While the word has evolved over the centuries, its usage remains flexible, encompassing a wide array of fungal forms that captivate and intrigue us to this day.
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Mushroom communication
Mushrooms are a type of fungus with a distinctive umbrella-shaped cap and thin, bladelike gills on the undersurface, from which spores are shed. They are typically found in the agaric family (Agaricaceae).
Mushrooms have long been thought of as silent, solitary organisms, but recent studies suggest that they may be sophisticated communicators. Research indicates that mushrooms and fungi communicate within their own species and with other organisms. They do this through a constant stream of chemicals, nutrients, and
These electrical impulses, or signals, are similar to the way nerve cells transmit information in humans. The firing rate of these impulses increases when fungi come into contact with a food source, such as wooden blocks, suggesting that they may be communicating about resources or changes to their environment.
Andrew Adamatzky, a professor of unconventional computing, has studied these impulses and their potential to form a language. He found that mushrooms communicate using a vocabulary of around 50 "words", with word lengths similar to those of human language. These words may even be grouped into sentences, with split gill fungi forming the most complex sentences.
While the exact meaning of these electrical signals remains a mystery, the discovery of this potential language has fascinating implications for our understanding of mushroom and fungus communication.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are the umbrella-shaped fruiting bodies of certain fungi, typically of the order Agaricales in the phylum Basidiomycota.
Common types of mushrooms include the honey mushroom, the chanterelle, the horn-of-plenty mushroom, the oyster mushroom, and the shiitake mushroom.
Identifying mushrooms requires an understanding of their macroscopic and microscopic structure. Characteristics such as the presence of juices, bruising reactions, odours, shades of colour, habitat, and season are considered. Chemical tests and molecular identification methods are also used.
No, the delineation between edible and poisonous mushrooms is not clear-cut. Some mushrooms are edible, while others are poisonous or unpalatable. It is important to learn about safe foraging practices when collecting and consuming wild mushrooms.
