Michael Davis
Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals; they are fungi. They constitute their own kingdom, which includes yeasts, moulds, smuts, and rusts. There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, and they play a vital role in nature and for humans. They are typically of the order Agaricales in the phylum Basidiomycota, but also of some other groups. The best-known mushroom family is Agaricaceae, which contains fungi with mushroom fruiting bodies and many of the puffballs formerly placed in the family Lycoperdaceae. Some mushrooms belong to the order Boletales, while others are not gilled and have different structures, such as pores or spines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of known mushroom kinds | 10,000 in North America, 14,000 worldwide |
| Mineral composition | Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn |
| Taxonomy | About 85 genera and 1,340 species |
| Morphology | Umbrella-shaped, club-shaped, cone-shaped, trumpet-shaped, etc. |
| Habitat | Pine, beech, deciduous, mixed forests, gardens, mulches, city parks, meadows |
| Development | Develop from a "button" stage into a mature structure |
| Microscopic structure | Basidiomycetes, gilled, with spores called basidiospores produced on gills |
| Spore print colors | White, brown, black, purple-brown, pink, yellow, creamy |
| Uses | Food, medicine (e.g., antibiotics), horticulture, fermentation |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are fungi
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 round structure of interwoven hyphae, called a "button". A mushroom develops from this button stage into a mature structure. The presence of juices upon breaking, bruising reactions, odours, tastes, shades of colour, habitat, habit, and season are all considered when identifying a mushroom.
Most mushrooms are basidiomycetes and gilled. Their spores, called basidiospores, are produced on the gills and fall in a fine rain of powder from under the caps. At the microscopic level, the basidiospores are shot off basidia and then fall between the gills in the dead air space. The colour of the powdery print, called a spore print, is useful in both classifying and identifying mushrooms.
The term "mushroom" is used loosely, and giving a full account of their classifications is difficult. Some mushrooms have pores underneath (often called boletes), while others have spines, such as the hedgehog mushroom and other tooth fungi. The term toadstool is often reserved for inedible mushrooms.
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Some mushrooms are gilled
Mushrooms are a type of fungus with a conspicuous umbrella-shaped fruiting body called a sporophore. They are typically of the order Agaricales in the phylum Basidiomycota, but some belong to other groups. The term "mushroom" is loosely used to refer to various macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies, and not all mushrooms are gilled. However, most mushrooms are indeed gilled, and these are called agarics. Agarics have gills under the cap of the mushroom, called lamellae, which are used for spore dispersal and are important for species identification. The gills produce spores called basidiospores, which fall in a fine rain of powder from under the caps. The gills can also have distinctive microscopic or macroscopic features. For example, Lactarius species typically seep latex from their gills.
The colour of the gills is an important factor in distinguishing between edible and poisonous mushrooms. While the edible members of the Agaric family have pink to brown/black gills, some toxic members of this family look very similar. A general rule of thumb is to avoid mushrooms with white gills, as these are members of the poisonous Amanita family. Additionally, if the flesh of a mushroom immediately or rapidly turns blue when cut, it is likely poisonous.
Some other mushroom varieties lack gills altogether. For example, the Bolete family, which includes the Boletus, Suillus, and Leccinum genera, does not have gills but rather sponge-like pores and generally stout stems. Russulas, or Brittlegills, have very brittle gills and stems, with some members of this family being poisonous, some delicious, and some simply unpleasant-tasting.
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Some mushrooms are edible, some are poisonous
Mushrooms are a type of fungus with a wide range of shapes, colours, and sizes. They are typically classified as gilled or non-gilled, with the gilled variety being the most common. While some mushrooms are edible, others are poisonous and can cause a range of symptoms, from mild nausea and vomiting to life-threatening seizures or liver failure. It is important to be able to distinguish between the two to avoid accidental poisoning.
The term "mushroom" is used loosely to refer to a variety of macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies, and there are approximately 14,000 known species. Some common types of mushrooms include agarics, boletes, chanterelles, and puffballs. Agarics, or gilled mushrooms, have thin, bladelike gills on the undersurface of the cap, from which spores are shed. They typically have a cap (pileus) and a stalk (stipe). Boletes, on the other hand, do not have gills but instead have sponge-like pores and generally stout stems.
When it comes to identifying whether a mushroom is edible or poisonous, there are some general rules to follow. It is recommended to avoid mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem, and a bulbous or sack-like base called a volva, as these are characteristics of the poisonous Amanita family. Additionally, mushrooms with any amount of red on the cap, stem, or pores should be treated as poisonous. If the flesh of the mushroom stains blue when cut in half, it is also likely to be toxic.
While these guidelines can help rule out some poisonous mushrooms, it is important to note that accurate identification can be challenging. Some edible and poisonous mushrooms may have similar appearances, and even experts can struggle to distinguish between them. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious and only consume mushrooms that have been positively identified as edible. Taste and smell tests can be used for certain types of mushrooms, but these should only be attempted when the mushroom's family is known. For example, a taste test can be used for the Russula family, where a chilli-like burn indicates toxicity, but an edible mushroomy taste means it is safe to consume.
Additionally, it is important to consider individual sensitivities and allergies. Even edible mushrooms can cause adverse reactions in certain individuals, so it is recommended to try a small amount of any new species before consuming a full meal. Overall, the key to staying safe is to be cautious and refrain from consuming any mushroom unless its edibility is known with certainty.
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Mushrooms are classified by their macroscopic structure
The term "mushroom" is also used to describe a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems. Thus, the term is used to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota. The gills of these fungi produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
Mushrooms that deviate from the standard morphology often have more specific names, such as "bolete", "truffle", "puffball", "stinkhorn", and "morel". While the agarics and boletes include most of the forms known as mushrooms, other groups of fungi are considered to be mushrooms by laymen. Among these are the hydnums or hedgehog mushrooms, which have teeth, spines, or warts on the undersurface of the cap.
The identification of mushrooms has traditionally been based on macroscopic structures and morphology, such as characteristics like spore colour or microscopic features. However, modern identification is quickly becoming molecular, and DNA analysis is being incorporated into taxonomy.
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Agaricaceae is the best-known mushroom family
Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. They constitute their own kingdom: the Fungi. There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. The term "mushroom" is used loosely, and providing a full account of their classifications is challenging. Some mushrooms have gills, while others have pores or spines underneath. The term "mushroom" is more of a common application to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies than a precise taxonomic meaning.
Gilled mushrooms are often called "agarics" in reference to their similarity to Agaricus or their order Agaricales. The Agaricaceae family is the best-known mushroom family, containing fungi with mushroom fruiting bodies and puffballs formerly placed in the family Lycoperdaceae. The taxonomy of the group has been heavily revised and contains about 85 genera and 1,340 species.
Mushrooms in the Agaricaceae family include common fungi such as the fairy-ring mushroom, shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, fly agarics, and other Amanitas. These mushrooms typically have an umbrella-shaped fruiting body (sporophore) and bear thin, bladelike gills on the undersurface of the cap from which the spores are shed. The sporophore of an agaric consists of a cap (pileus) and a stalk (stipe), emerging from an extensive underground network of thread-like strands (mycelium).
Identifying mushrooms requires an understanding of their macroscopic structure. Most mushrooms are basidiomycetes and gilled, producing spores called basidiospores on the gills. When the cap is cut off and placed gill-side-down overnight, a powdery impression reflecting the shape of the gills is formed. The colour of this spore print is useful for classifying and identifying mushrooms. While modern identification of mushrooms is becoming increasingly molecular, standard methods such as microscopic examination and chemical tests are still commonly used.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and take nutrients from other materials. They are neither plants nor animals but constitute their own kingdom: the Fungi.
There are about 10,000 kinds of mushrooms in North America, including chanterelles, false chanterelles, milk-cap mushrooms, and russulas.
Other types of mushrooms include puffballs, stinkhorns, jelly fungi, coral fungi, and cup fungi.
Most mushrooms are in the Agaricaceae family, bearing thin, bladelike gills on the undersurface of the cap from which the spores are shed.
Some mushrooms belong to the order Boletales, bearing pores in a detachable layer on the underside of the cap. Mushrooms can also be classified under the Tricholomataceae and Boletaceae families.
