Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are fascinating organisms with complex and varied anatomical structures. One of the most prominent structures is the gill, or lamella, located beneath the cap of many mushroom species. These papery hymenophore ribs are the primary site for spore production and dispersal, and play a crucial role in mushroom identification. The intricate patterns and range of attachment styles of gills not only add to the aesthetic appeal of mushrooms but also serve as visual fingerprints, helping mycologists and foragers distinguish edible mushrooms from their toxic look-alikes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To produce and release spores |
| Location | Under the cap of some mushroom species |
| Attachment styles | Free gills, attached gills, decurrent gills, notched gills, broadly attached, narrowly attached, smoothly notched, abruptly notched, hanging, collared, and more |
| Spacing | Widely or closely spaced |
| Length | May not always run from stem to cap |
| Forking | Some gills branch off from one another |
| False gills | Some mushrooms have structures that appear forked but are false gills, such as the chanterelle |
| Colour | Can vary and be an important identifier |
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What You'll Learn
Gills are used for spore dispersal
In mycology, a lamella (gill) is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. Gills are used by mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal and are important for species identification. The development of gills in various basidiomycetes is likely due to the increased surface area to mass ratio, which enhances spore production and dispersal. This evolutionary advantage allows for effective spore dispersal even in low-wind environments.
Mushroom spore dispersal typically occurs in two phases. The first phase involves the active ejection of spores from the gill surface by surface tension catapults, propelling them clear of the gill. This initial impulse is influenced by the spacing and orientation of the gills. The second phase is passive, where the spores are carried by air currents beneath the mushroom cap, aided by water vapour loss creating slow airflows. This two-phase process ensures controlled spore dispersal, even in calm conditions.
The gills' orientation and structure play a crucial role in spore dispersal. Most mushrooms have gills that are V-shaped in cross-section, with the point of the "V" at the bottom of the gill, ensuring vertical orientation. However, some species, like Coprinus comatus, have parallel-sided gills without strict vertical control. Despite this deviation, Coprinus comatus remains an efficient spore disperser due to the sequential maturation of spores in rising bands, ensuring a short falling distance before being carried away by air currents.
The spacing and arrangement of gills also contribute to spore dispersal efficiency. Some mushrooms have closely spaced gills, like brick tops, while others have more widely spaced gills, like waxy caps. Additionally, gills may vary in length, with "short gills" not reaching all the way from the stem to the cap. Forking, or branching, of gills is another important feature that can impact spore dispersal and species identification.
While gills are the predominant structure for spore dispersal in mushrooms, alternative structures like pores and teeth (or spines) also serve this function. Pores are small holes on the underside of the cap, with spores produced and released through a series of tubes. Teeth fungi, like the hedgehog mushroom, have long, thin "teeth" that hang downward and produce spores, functioning similarly to gilled fungi. These variations in spore dispersal mechanisms showcase the diverse strategies employed by different mushroom species to ensure effective propagation.
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Gills are important for species identification
Gills are important for identifying mushroom species. They are the papery hymenophore ribs located under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. They are used by mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal. The gills' attachment to the stem, or stipe, is classified based on the shape of the gills when viewed from the side. The colour, crowding, and shape of individual gills can also be important features for identifying a mushroom species.
There are different types of gill attachments that can be observed. Gills may be broadly or narrowly attached to the stipe, or stem. They can also be smoothly notched before slightly running down the stipe, or notched abruptly before attaching to the stipe. Gills can also appear torn away or hanging, with evidence of attachment remaining on the stipe, usually in older specimens. Gills may also be attached and extend down the stipe, or be attached to a collar or ring that encircles the stipe.
Free gills, for example, do not attach to the stem of the mushroom. Instead, they radiate outwards from the cap, creating a noticeable space between the gill attachment and the stem. This type of mushroom gill attachment is commonly observed in mushrooms such as Agaricus, including popular culinary varieties like Portobello, Crimini, and button mushrooms. Attached gills, also known as adnate gills, are more commonly seen in mushrooms. In this type of attachment, the gills are broadly connected to the stem, without any noticeable gap.
Another interesting variation of gill attachment is the decurrent gill, where the gills extend beyond their attachment point and run down the stem, below the level of the main part of the gills. The edge of a decurrent gill is often slanted, giving the appearance of a widening gill as it approaches the stem. This type of attachment is commonly observed in mushrooms such as Tricholoma species. Notched gills are a close cousin of attached gills, also known as emarginate, with a slight variation in their attachment pattern.
In addition to the attachment style, other characteristics of gills can also be important for species identification. For example, the spacing of the gills, whether they run all the way from the stem to the cap, and whether they fork or branch off from one another, can all be important factors in identifying mushrooms. Therefore, a thorough understanding of gill attachments and their variations is essential for accurately identifying mushroom species.
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Gills have distinct attachment styles
Gills, or lamellae, are the papery hymenophore ribs found under the cap of many mushroom species, most often agarics. They are the primary site for spore production and dispersal. The attachment of gills to the stem, or stipe, varies across different species of mushrooms. This variation in attachment styles is an important factor in distinguishing edible mushrooms from their toxic counterparts.
There are two main categories of gill attachment: free and attached. Free gills do not touch the stem at all, with a small area around the stem devoid of gills. Attached gills are further classified based on the degree of attachment. In some mushrooms, the gills are barely attached (adnexed), while in others, they run straight into the stem (adnate) or down the stem (de-current).
Some gills are broadly attached to the stipe, while others are narrowly attached. Certain gills are smoothly notched before slightly running down the stipe, while some are notched abruptly before attaching. In older mushrooms, gills may appear torn away or hanging, but evidence of attachment may still be observed. Gills may also be attached and extend down the stipe, or they may not attach to the stipe at all. Interestingly, gills can also be attached to a collar or ring that encircles the stipe.
The shape, colour, and crowding of gills, as well as the presence of microscopic or macroscopic features, further contribute to the distinct attachment styles of gills. For example, Lactarius species are characterised by gills that seep latex. Additionally, some mushrooms have "false gills," which are rudimentary lamellar structures that are little more than folds, wrinkles, or veins. These false gills are found in certain genera of chanterelles, such as Cantharellus and Craterellus.
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False gills are folds, wrinkles or veins
In mycology, a gill, or lamella, is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. They are the primary site for spore production and dispersal. False gills, on the other hand, are not separate features that can be individually picked off. Instead, they are little more than folds, wrinkles, or veins.
False gills are found on certain types of chanterelle mushrooms, which are gourmet edibles. The false gills on chanterelles are actually rudimentary lamellar structures that are distinguished from "true gills" by the uninterrupted structure of the fertile surface, or hymenium. This means that the structure of the hymenium continues uninterrupted over the gill edge.
The genus Gomphus also has false gills, which are considered primitive lamellae. These false gills indicate how the evolution towards true gills probably occurred. While false gills may appear forked, they are not separate structures like true gills.
False gills can be identified by their forking appearance and the fact that they cannot be individually picked off. They are found on certain types of edible mushrooms, such as chanterelles. Understanding the difference between false and true gills is important for proper mushroom identification and distinguishing edible mushrooms from toxic look-alikes.
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Gills can be free or attached
Gills are located beneath the cap of many mushroom species and are the primary site for spore production and dispersal. They are used by mycologists and foragers to identify mushrooms. The manner in which the gills attach to the stem or stipe varies, and these patterns of attachment are referred to as "visual fingerprints". Some gills may run down the length of the stipe, while others might not even touch it.
Gills can be broadly or narrowly attached to the stipe, or they may be smoothly notched before slightly running down the stipe. Gills can also be notched abruptly before attaching to the stipe, or they may appear torn away or hanging, with evidence of attachment remaining on the stipe, which usually occurs in older mushrooms. Gills can also be attached and extend down the stipe, or they may be attached and slightly extend down the stipe.
False gills, or rudimentary lamellar structures, are found in some species of chanterelles. These are distinguished from "true gills" because the structure of the fertile surface, or hymenium, continues uninterrupted over the gill edge, so they are little more than folds, wrinkles, or veins. False gills can be found in the genus Gomphus, as well as in the edible chanterelle, where the structures appear forked but cannot be individually picked off.
Some gills do not attach to the stipe at all. Instead, they are attached to a collar or ring that encircles the stipe. These are known as lamellulae, or partial gills. Another structure used for spore dispersal is pores, which appear as small holes on the underside of the cap. Pores are found in boletes and polypores, and the pore-laden area is often quite spongy.
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Frequently asked questions
In mycology, gills, or lamellae, are the papery hymenophore ribs under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics.
The sole purpose of mushroom gills is to produce and release spores. Gills are the primary site for spore production and dispersal.
Gill identification can be done by observing the spacing, length, and forking of the gills. Other factors include the colour, crowding, and shape of individual gills.
