Michael Davis
Mushrooms are classified based on their shared characteristics, with each mushroom grouped under broader categories that narrow down to specific species. The standard mushroom is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, which has a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. These gills produce microscopic spores that help the fungus spread. Mushrooms are typically of the order Agaricales in the phylum Basidiomycota, but they can also belong to other orders, such as Boletales. The term mushroom is used to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota, and the term toadstool is often reserved for inedible or poisonous fruiting bodies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Classification | Kingdom > Phylum (or Division) > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species |
| Type Genus | Agaricus |
| Type Species | Field mushroom, Agaricus campestris |
| Morphology | Cap (pileus), stem (stipe), gills (lamellae, sing. lamella) |
| Spore Print Colors | White, brown, black, purple-brown, pink, yellow, creamy |
| Fruiting Body | Edible sporophores |
| Poisonous Sporophores | Toadstool |
| Other Names | Bolete, truffle, puffball, stinkhorn, morel, agarics |
| Common Commercial Variety | Common white or button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) |
| Macronutrient Composition | 90% water, 3% protein, 5% carbohydrate, 1% fat, 1% mineral salts and vitamins |
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What You'll Learn
The scientific classification of mushrooms
Mushrooms are classified using a hierarchical system, similar to other organisms, where each mushroom is grouped based on shared characteristics. The classification starts with broader categories like Kingdom and Phylum, and narrows down to specific species.
The standard definition of a mushroom is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. The word "mushroom" is typically used to describe those fungi that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. These gills produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread.
However, the term "mushroom" is also used to describe a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems, and some non-gill fungi. Thus, the term is more of a common application to fleshy fungal fruiting bodies than one with a precise taxonomic meaning.
Mushrooms that deviate from the standard morphology often have more specific names, such as "bolete", "truffle", "puffball", "stinkhorn", and "morel". These mushrooms can vary in shape, colour, and method of spore dispersal. For example, boletes feature a spongy layer of tubes instead of gills, and chanterelles have ridges on their undersides instead of gills.
In terms of scientific classification, mushrooms are classified as follows:
- Kingdom: Fungi
- Phylum: Basidiomycota or Ascomycota
- Class: Agaricomycetes
- Order: Agaricales or Boletales
- Family: Agaricaceae or other
- Genus: Agaricus or other
- Species: Agaricus campestris or other
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The common names of mushrooms
The common name "mushroom" typically refers to the cultivated white button mushroom, or Agaricus bisporus. This species is characterised by a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap, which produce microscopic spores. While the term "mushroom" is often applied to these specific types of fungi, it can also be used more broadly to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota, which may or may not have stems.
Deviations from this standard morphology often result in more specific names, such as "bolete", which usually refers to mushrooms with pores underneath instead of gills. "Truffle", on the other hand, typically describes edible fungi that lack the physical characteristics of the standard mushroom but are still considered mushrooms due to their fleshy structure. Similarly, "puffball" is used for mushrooms without stalks, and "stinkhorn" for those with a unique shape and odour. The term "morel" is applied to mushrooms that resemble a deeply folded or pitted conelike sponge at the top of a hollow stem.
The term "toadstool" is often used interchangeably with "mushroom", but it typically refers to inedible or poisonous varieties. This distinction dates back to 14th-century England, where "toadstool" implied an inedible, poisonous fungus. However, it's important to note that there is no scientific consensus on the application of these terms, and the delineation between edible and poisonous fungi is not always clear-cut.
Mushrooms are also classified based on their macroscopic structure, particularly the presence of gills or pores. Most mushrooms are basidiomycetes and have gills that produce spores called basidiospores. These gills can be free, not extending to the top of the stalk, or decurrent, extending down the stalk. Some mushrooms, like the hedgehog mushroom, have spines instead of gills, while others, such as boletes, have pores.
While modern identification methods are becoming increasingly molecular, traditional identification techniques are still widely used. These include examining the presence of juices, bruising reactions, odours, tastes, shades of colour, habitat, and season. Spore prints, formed by the spores falling in a fine powder, are also useful for classifying and identifying mushrooms.
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The structure of mushrooms
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of fungi, specifically those of the order Agaricales, whose type genus is Agaricus and type species is the field mushroom, Agaricus campestris. However, not all members of the order Agaricales produce mushroom fruit bodies, and many other gilled fungi, collectively called mushrooms, are found in other orders of the class Agaricomycetes.
Mushrooms typically consist of a stalk (stipe) and a cap (pileus). The stalk may be central and support the cap in the middle, or it may be off-centre or absent altogether. The cap, which can vary greatly in appearance, holds the gills or pores on its underside. The gills are composed of two layers: the lamellae that reach from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that don't reach the stem. Some mushrooms have ridges or teeth on their underside instead of gills. The gills or ridges produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface.
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 mushroom grows, the button ruptures and may leave fragments on the cap. The cap then expands, and the gills rupture, releasing spores.
The colour of the spore print, or spore, is useful in classifying and identifying mushrooms. Other factors that can be used to identify mushrooms include the presence of juices upon breaking, bruising reactions, odours, tastes, shades of colour, habitat, habit, and season.
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How to identify mushrooms
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of members of the order Agaricales, whose type species is the field mushroom, Agaricus campestris. However, not all members of the order Agaricales produce mushroom fruit bodies, and many other gilled fungi, called mushrooms, are found in other orders of the class Agaricomycetes. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus.
Mushrooms are typically umbrella-shaped and have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) on the underside of the cap. The gills produce microscopic spores that help the fungus spread. Some mushrooms lack gills and instead have small "teeth" or "spines" hanging from the underside of the cap, like the northern tooth, which is a parasite that rots the heartwood of maple trees. Other mushrooms, like puffballs, lack a stalk but may have a supporting base.
Identifying mushrooms can be challenging and requires a basic understanding of their macroscopic structure. Some crucial factors to observe include the presence of juices upon breaking, bruising reactions, odours, tastes, shades of colour, habitat, habit, and season. The colour of the powdery print, or spore print, is also useful for classifying and identifying mushrooms. While modern identification of mushrooms is becoming increasingly molecular, standard methods are still used by most and have developed into a fine art.
To identify mushrooms, it is recommended to pick up a highly-rated guidebook for your region. Some mushrooms display a chemical reaction when exposed to certain substances, and others are distinguished by microscopic characteristics. For example, the chanterelle mushroom has a unique set of characteristics, including false gills, a vase-shaped cap, and a fruity or flowery smell.
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The history of mushroom classification
Historically, fungi, including mushrooms, were considered part of the plant kingdom due to similarities in lifestyle and morphology. However, pioneering taxonomists like Carl Linnaeus, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and Elias Magnus Fries classified fungi based on morphology and physiology, laying the foundation for modern mycology. Microscopic examination and standard methods for identification, such as spore colour, habitat, and taste, have been integral to classifying mushrooms.
Over time, molecular methods and phylogenetic studies have reshaped the classification within the fungi kingdom. Advances in molecular genetics have facilitated DNA analysis, challenging historical groupings. Mushrooms are now recognised as distinct from plants, belonging to the kingdom Eumycota or true fungi.
While the standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), the term is loosely used for various gilled fungi, with or without stems. Mushrooms are typically classified as the fruit bodies of members of the order Agaricales, but modern molecular definitions acknowledge that not all Agaricales produce mushroom fruit bodies.
The order Agaricales belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota, but mushrooms can also be found in other groups. Some mushrooms deviate from the standard morphology and have specific names like "bolete," "truffle," and "puffball." The term "mushroom" is generally applied to fleshy fungal fruiting bodies, while "toadstool" refers to inedible or poisonous varieties. However, there is no scientific distinction between the two terms, and they can be used interchangeably.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are the fruit bodies of fungi. They are typically umbrella-shaped and gilled, with spores called basidiospores produced on the gills.
Most mushrooms are of the order Agaricales, in the phylum Basidiomycota. However, some mushrooms belong to other orders, such as Cantharellales, Gomphales, Russulales, Polyporales, Gloeophyllales, Hymenochaetales, and Auriculariales.
Mushrooms can be classified using common names or a standardized Latin-based taxonomy system. The Latin-based system is hierarchical, with each organism grouped based on shared characteristics. The classification goes as follows: Kingdom > Phylum (or Division) > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species.
