John Miller
Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals, but they are a type of fungus with a unique structure. The part of the mushroom that we eat is actually the fruit of the fungi, and its purpose is to spread spores at the end of its life cycle so that new mushrooms can grow. The cap, or pileus, is the structure on top of the mushroom that holds the gills or pores. The gills under the cap are important for identification as they can help distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. The caps of mushrooms can vary in shape, size, colour, and texture, and some mushrooms have distinct features such as scales or teeth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To hold gills or pores |
| Appearance | Spherical, like an umbrella |
| Development | Starts as evenly convex and expands as it matures |
| Identification | Can be smooth or covered with scales or teeth |
| Gills | Small, thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem |
| Spores | Produced on gills and dispersed as fine powder |
| Underside | Has gills, teeth, ridges, or pores |
| Shape | Can be spherical, funnel-shaped, or trumpet-shaped |
| Size | Caps range from 4 to 16 cm in diameter |
| Colour | Can be greenish-yellow, brown, tan, or rarely white |
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What You'll Learn
- Caps are the 'fruit' of the fungi, with the purpose of spreading spores
- The underside of the cap can help distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms
- Caps come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures
- Caps can be smooth or covered in scales or teeth
- Mushrooms with teeth have long, thin, shaggy growths hanging from the cap
Caps are the 'fruit' of the fungi, with the purpose of spreading spores
Mushrooms are the fruit of fungi, with the purpose of spreading spores. The part of the mushroom that we eat is the "fruit" of the fungi. Its primary function is to spread spores at the end of its life cycle, allowing new mushrooms to grow nearby. Mushrooms have a unique process for absorbing nutrients, with some species spreading their mycelium for miles underground. This mycelium, or network of thin fibres, can remain dormant for many seasons before breaking through the surface to develop into the structure we recognise as a mushroom.
The cap, or pileus, is the structure on top of the mushroom that holds the gills or pores. The gills, found on the underside of the cap, produce spores, which are released at the end of the mushroom's life cycle. These spores fall off the gills and may be carried by wind or animals to new locations, where they will develop into new mushrooms. The cap plays a crucial role in spore dispersal, protecting the gills and providing a surface for spores to fall onto and be dispersed.
The cap also serves to protect the spores and gills from damage. The scales on the cap, for example, provide hard-shelled protection for the fungi. These scales often appear as a result of cracking during the expansion of the cap as the mushroom grows. The shape and texture of the cap can vary significantly between species, with some having smooth caps, while others have scales or teeth. The cap's unique characteristics are essential for identifying different mushroom species.
Additionally, the cap plays a role in attracting animals that aid in spore dispersal. For instance, the lion's mane mushroom has "teeth" or shaggy hair-like structures that hang around the mushroom, producing spores. These structures can attract insects or other animals, which then carry the spores to new locations. The cap's colour, shape, and size can also influence its visibility to potential spore dispersers, such as insects or larger animals.
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The underside of the cap can help distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms
The underside of a mushroom's cap can be crucial in distinguishing between edible and poisonous mushrooms. The underside can have one of four types of structures: gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills, for instance, are small, thin-walled structures that usually appear in clusters around the stem. They are composed of two layers: the lamellae, which extend from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that do not reach the stem.
Some general rules of thumb for identifying poisonous mushrooms based on their gills include avoiding those with white gills, as well as those with gills that stain bright chrome yellow when bruised. Additionally, if the gills exude a milky substance when touched or damaged, it is best to avoid them unless you are certain of the species.
The presence of teeth or ridges on the underside of the cap can also be indicative of certain mushroom species. For example, the Lion's Mane mushroom has "teeth" or shaggy hair-like structures that produce spores. These structures can be useful in narrowing down the species of mushroom as they are less common than gills or spores.
Furthermore, the shape and texture of the cap itself can be indicative of whether a mushroom is edible or poisonous. For instance, the cap of the true morel is pitted, while that of the false morel appears wavy and crumpled. Additionally, the texture of the cap can be useful, such as in the case of the Shaggy Mane mushroom, which has a distinctive "shaggy" texture that distinguishes it from its toxic look-alike, the Alcohol Inky Cap.
While these guidelines can be helpful, it is important to note that there is no definitive home test to determine whether a mushroom is edible or poisonous. The safest approach is to only consume mushrooms purchased from reputable sources such as supermarkets or greengrocers. If you intend to forage for wild mushrooms, it is strongly advised to seek guidance and correctly identify the mushroom before consumption.
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Caps come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures
The cap of a mushroom, also known as the pileus, displays a wide range of physical characteristics that differ between species. The cap is the structure on top of the mushroom that holds the gills or pores. Caps come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures.
Some mushrooms have spherical caps, resembling umbrellas. In the early stages of development, these caps are evenly convex, later expanding as the mushroom matures. For instance, the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) has a cap that starts out round or oval-shaped and becomes convex to flat as the mushroom ages. Other mushrooms, like chanterelles, have funnel- or trumpet-shaped caps. The parasol mushroom has a distinct boss or umbo, described as umbonate, with a knobby protrusion at the center of the cap.
Lion's mane mushrooms are tooth fungi, lacking a spherical dome cap. Instead, they have "teeth" or shaggy hair-like structures that produce spores. Some mushrooms have scales on their caps, which are hard-shelled protections that form as a result of cracking during the expansion of the cap. Scaly caps are useful for identifying certain mushrooms, as many species possess them.
The underside of a mushroom's cap can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills are small, thin-walled structures that surround the stem and are usually found in clusters. They are composed of two layers: lamellae, which extend from the stem to the edge, and lamellulae, which are shorter gills that do not reach the stem. Teeth are long, thin, shaggy growths that hang from the cap and can range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters in length. Pores are found in boletes and polypores, with the latter often growing on decaying wood and developing rings of different shades of brown and white as they mature.
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Caps can be smooth or covered in scales or teeth
The cap, or pileus, is the structure on top of a mushroom that holds the gills or pores. Caps come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. They can be smooth or covered in scales or teeth. The shape of the cap is unique to each species of mushroom.
Scales are a part of a mushroom's anatomy that forms hard-shelled protection for fungi. They often appear in various shapes and sizes, contributing to the unique physical appearance of mushrooms in the wild. They typically appear on the cap as a result of cracking as the cap expands during growth, but they can also be present on the stem. Scaly caps can be useful in identifying mushrooms, as numerous species have them. For example, the shaggy scalycap mushroom and the parasol mushroom both have scales on their caps.
Teeth, or spines, are long, thin, shaggy growths that hang from the mushroom cap. They can range from a few millimetres to a few centimetres in length. Lion's mane mushrooms are an example of tooth fungi, which produce spores from their teeth or shaggy hair-like structures. Teeth are not as common as gills or spores, making them a useful feature for narrowing down the species of a mushroom.
The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills are small, thin-walled structures that usually surround the mushroom's stem and are composed of two layers: lamellae and lamellulae. The underside of a mushroom is sometimes the only way to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms.
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Mushrooms with teeth have long, thin, shaggy growths hanging from the cap
Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. The part of the mushroom that we eat is the "fruit" of the fungi. The mushroom cap, also known as the pileus, is the structure on top of the mushroom that holds the gills or pores. They come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. The common appearance of the mushroom anatomy that most people are familiar with consists of a cap and stem.
Lion's mane mushrooms are tooth fungi, meaning they have "teeth" or shaggy hair-like structures that hang around the mushroom and produce spores, instead of a spherical dome cap. These teeth are also known as spines and are long, thin, and shaggy growths hanging from the mushroom cap. They can be a few millimetres to a few centimetres long.
Mushroom teeth make it easier to identify the species of mushroom because they are not as present compared to gills or spores. The underside of a mushroom is sometimes the only way to distinguish between edible mushrooms and poisonous ones. The underside of a mushroom can have one of four types of structures: gills, teeth, ridges, or pores.
When some mushrooms are in the early stages of growth, they develop a partial veil that surrounds and protects the underside of the cap. As the mushroom matures and expands, its partial veil breaks away from the cap and is left hanging around the stem. This hanging part is the annulus, or mushroom ring.
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Frequently asked questions
The cap, or pileus, is the structure on top of the mushroom that holds the gills or pores. The gills produce spores, which are essential for the reproduction of the mushroom. The spores fall off the gills and may travel some distance before landing and starting a new mushroom.
Mushroom caps come in different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. Some common types include spherical caps, which are similar to an umbrella, and convex caps, which are evenly rounded and become more expanded as the mushroom matures. Some mushrooms, like the lion's mane, have "teeth" or shaggy hair-like structures that hang around the mushroom and produce spores. Other mushrooms, like the parasol mushroom, have distinct bosses or umbos and are described as umbonate.
The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores, and this can be important for identification as many species look similar based on the appearance of their cap. For example, boletes have pores and grow in forests by making symbiotic relationships with trees, while polypores are shelf-shaped and usually grow on rotting wood. The colour and texture of the cap can also be useful for identification, as some mushrooms have scales or teeth that contribute to their unique physical appearance.
