John Miller
Fungi come in all shapes and sizes, from little button mushrooms to giant puffballs that can be mistaken for sheep. They can be challenging to find and photograph, as they tend to like darkness, dampness, rotting wood, and fallen leaves. However, some things that look like mushrooms are not fungi at all. For example, a new species of deep-sea animal discovered in the Bass Strait of Australia resembles mushrooms but does not fit into any existing animal group. Artist Maurizio Montalti has also been creating everyday objects like shoes, bowls, and lampshades from various fungi.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Magic mushrooms look like ordinary mushrooms with long, slender stems that are whitish-gray and dark brown caps that are light brown or white in the center. Dried mushrooms are a rusty brown color with isolated areas of off-white. |
| Confusion with poisonous mushrooms | Magic mushrooms look similar to poisonous mushrooms, which can cause severe illness, organ damage, and even death. |
| Varieties | Common varieties of magic mushrooms include golden tops, blue meanies, and liberty caps. |
| Psychedelic effects | Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and can cause a person to see, hear, and feel sensations that seem real but are not. |
| Active ingredient | The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted to psilocin in the body and influences serotonin in the brain, leading to altered and unusual perceptions. |
| Diagnostic traits | Chanterelles, an edible variety of mushrooms, can be distinguished by their fertile surface composed of "folds" rather than true gills. |
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What You'll Learn
Deep-sea animals resembling mushrooms
The deep sea is home to a wide variety of creatures, some of which resemble mushrooms. One such example is the mushroom soft coral, which is abundant on the deep seafloor and provides safety and shelter to smaller animals. Mushroom-like organisms have also been discovered in the deep sea off the coast of Australia. These organisms, known as Dendrogramma, were first collected in the 1980s and resemble a mushroom with a stalk and a broad, flat disc. Dendrogramma has a body plan similar to animals in the phyla Cnidaria (jellyfish) and Ctenophora (comb jellies), but it lacks the defining characteristics of these groups, such as stinging cells and tentacles. The taxonomic affinity of Dendrogramma was initially unclear, but RNA from new specimens allowed it to be identified as a siphonophore, a type of jellyfish.
The discovery of Dendrogramma has intrigued scientists as it may provide insights into early animal evolution and the diversification of life on Earth. The organisms' unique characteristics, such as their mushroom-like shape and uncertain taxonomic affinity, have led researchers to speculate that they may be fragments or larval stages of larger animals. The lack of indication that the organisms were attached to a surface or each other suggests that they are free-living. However, their inflexible disc and lack of other obvious means of propulsion indicate that they may not be able to swim.
The deep sea is a challenging environment to study, and the discovery of Dendrogramma highlights how little we still know about the diverse and unique creatures that inhabit it. The use of technology such as remotely operated devices and coarse nets has allowed scientists to uncover these mysterious organisms and continue to explore the fascinating world of deep-sea creatures. The deep sea is known to harbour many outlandish life forms, from razor-toothed fish that use lights to lure prey to giant isopods the size of a human face.
Mushroom-like organisms in the deep sea, such as Dendrogramma and mushroom soft coral, showcase the incredible biodiversity that exists in the deepest realms of our oceans. These discoveries contribute to our understanding of the complex web of life and the importance of protecting the health and integrity of our ocean ecosystems. The deep sea is a vast and largely unexplored realm, and further research and exploration will undoubtedly reveal more fascinating creatures and insights into the evolution and adaptation of life in extreme environments.
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Photographing fungi
Fungi photography is a challenging yet rewarding endeavour. With careful planning and a keen eye, you can capture the beauty and intrigue of these organisms. Here are some tips for photographing fungi:
Finding Fungi
Fungi can be found in various habitats, but woodlands, especially old deciduous woodlands, tend to offer the greatest variety. Look for dark, damp places with little sunlight, such as under piles of leaves or around rotting trees. Fungi can also emerge after rainy periods, so keep an eye out following wet weather. Remember to take note of their locations, as they often return to the same spots annually.
Equipment
A good macro lens is essential for fungi photography, as it allows you to get up close and capture intricate details. Telephoto lenses are also useful for minimising background distractions and achieving a shallow depth of field. Additionally, consider using LED light panels or other artificial light sources to illuminate your subject effectively.
Composition and Lighting
Composition is key when photographing fungi. Use a shallow depth of field or a wide aperture to separate the fungus from the surrounding clutter. Creative lighting can also enhance your photographs. Consider backlighting to emphasise certain features or use natural light to maintain the shady atmosphere of the habitat. Reflectors, diffusers, or artificial light can help control contrast.
Focus Stacking
Focus stacking is a technique that combines multiple images, each with a different focal point, to achieve sharpness throughout the entire fungus. This method ensures that both the foreground and background elements remain in focus, creating a more captivating image.
Cleaning and Angles
Consider cleaning the specimen to remove dirt or debris that may be distracting in the final shot. Additionally, shooting from a low angle can draw viewers into the fungi's world, adding a three-dimensional feel to your images. It also allows you to capture the underbelly of the fungus, showcasing its textures, shapes, and colours.
Groupings and Background
Try to capture mushrooms in groups, as odd-numbered groupings are often more visually pleasing than pairs. Include the background in your composition, assessing the distance between you and the mushrooms to create a sense of depth. Don't be afraid to experiment with different backgrounds and surroundings to add subtle shapes or textures to your images.
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Mycelium, the underground part of a mushroom
Mycelium is the vegetative body of a fungus, or the part that does all the work. It is the part of the fungus that lies beneath the reproductive structures we know as mushrooms, truffles, or crusts. Mycelium is usually hidden from sight, growing underneath the soil or on other substrates like rotting logs. It forms a network of thin fungal strands called hyphae, which explore the soil or any other substrate where fungi are growing.
The mycelium has a similar function to the roots of plants. The hyphae secrete digestive enzymes onto their food source, often dead organic materials and sometimes living organisms. These enzymes break down the matter into smaller parts that feed not only the fungi but also their plant partners and many other organisms. This process of breaking down organic matter is critical in maintaining healthy soil, recycling leaf litter, and providing food for the bacteria and animals that live in the soil. Mycelium is an important food source for many soil invertebrates and is vital to agriculture and almost all species of plants.
Through their mycelium, fungi can form symbiotic relationships with the roots of host plants, creating a cross-kingdom web known as mycorrhizal networks. The fungi help the plants to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, beyond the reach of their roots and root hairs, and in exchange, the plants provide the fungi with sugars and fats produced through photosynthesis. Some plants require very specific fungi to germinate and grow, and their growth has been heavily impacted by land use and climate change, which threaten fungi.
Mycelium can be used to create leather and paper. In liquid-state fermentation, fungal biomass is grown using laboratory media or agricultural by-products and then separated into fibers. In solid-state fermentation, mycelium is grown on forestry bi-products like sawdust in an environment with high carbon dioxide concentrations and controlled humidity and temperature. The resulting mycelium mat is then dehydrated, chemically treated, and compressed. Mycelium is also a strong candidate for sustainable construction due to its lightweight, biodegradable structure and its ability to be grown from waste sources. However, it has some disadvantages, including low compressive strength and specific environmental requirements.
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Fungi-based leather
The process of making fungi-based leather involves growing mycelial cells on beds of renewable, organic matter. Billions of cells grow and form an interconnected 3D network. This network is then processed and tanned to make the final product. The tanning process for fungi-based leather is more environmentally friendly than traditional leather tanning, as mycelium does not rot and therefore does not require treatment with large amounts of salt and chemicals to prevent disintegration.
Some items made of fungi-based leather are already available on the commercial market. For example, Bolt Threads debuted a handbag made from mycelium in 2018, and Modern Meadow developed Zoa, a liquid leather-like substance grown from collagen that can be shaped into any form. However, one of the challenges in the production of fungi-derived leather is achieving consistent quality in terms of uniform growth, thickness, colour, and mechanical properties.
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Fungi in art
Fungi have been a source of artistic inspiration for centuries, with their unique shapes, sizes, and colours providing beautiful and complex subject matter for artists. The relationship between art and fungi is not always obvious, but fungi's dual nature as both visible and invisible, their association with decay and rebirth, and their use as a psychoactive substance have all contributed to their growing prominence in the art world.
Fungi have been used as a source of inspiration for artists working in a variety of media, including music, sculpture, painting, photography, and even fashion. In music, fungi have been used as both inspiration and instrument. The MIDI biodata sonification device, for example, records electrical fluctuations in mushrooms and translates them into musical notes. Several famous musicians, including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, have also attributed their zany lyrics to the influence of psychedelic compounds found in certain mushrooms.
In the visual arts, fungi can be found as both mediums and subjects. Mycelium, the branching, root-like structure of fungi, has been used as a sustainable and environmentally-friendly material for sculptures and construction. Mycelium bricks have been used in art installations, such as a 40-foot tower at MoMA PS1 in New York. Fungi have also been used to create natural dyes for textiles, with different species producing a range of colours.
The surreal and poetic sculptures of Anne Carnein, presented at the 2016 Berlin Art Week, featured fungi, trees, and flowers reproduced from pieces of the artist's clothing, exploring the continuous cycle of becoming and dying. Similarly, Sonja Bäumel's work, "Objects not static and silent but alive and talking," uses the growth of mushrooms to provoke thoughts about the static nature of objects versus our own dynamic existence.
Fungi have also been used as a metaphorical subject in art, often alluding to decadence, destruction, and rebirth. Celebrated contemporary German artist Anselm Kiefer's installation "Über Deutschland," displayed during his 2016 retrospective at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, featured giant mushrooms as a symbol of these themes.
The use of fungi in art is not limited to the visual arts. Mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, has been used by fashion brands such as Adidas, Stella McCartney, and Hermès, as a vegan alternative to leather.
Fungi's unique characteristics and their ability to evoke different emotions and inner pictures make them a compelling subject for artists. Whether used as a medium, subject, or metaphor, fungi continue to inspire and challenge artistic expression.
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Frequently asked questions
Everyday objects that have been fashioned from mushrooms include slippers, bowls, lampshades, and chairs.
Some species of deep-sea animals discovered in the 1980s resemble mushrooms. These animals are so unique that they may reshape the animal family tree.
Fungi come in all shapes and sizes, from little button mushrooms to giant puffballs that can be mistaken for sheep. Some species are bright purple, while others are brown or white.
