John Miller
Mushrooms are the conspicuous umbrella-shaped fruiting bodies of certain fungi, typically of the order Agaricales. They are characterised by their thin, bladelike gills on the undersurface of the cap from which spores are shed. However, some mushrooms, such as boletes, have pores underneath instead of gills. These pores are used to disperse spores and can change colour when cut or bruised. The pore-laden area beneath the cap is often quite spongy. Polypores, on the other hand, are the shelving structures that stick out of the side of trees and are often thick, hard, woody, or thin and tough or leathery. They are shaped like shelves, hence the term bracket fungi. This diversity in mushroom structures is an adaptation to maximise spore dispersal and survival.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common groups of mushrooms with pores | Boletes (the Boletus genus) and polypores |
| Characteristics of boletes | Form symbiotic relationships with the roots of trees, found growing on the ground near trees, have a stalk, an umbrella-shaped top, and disperse spores through small pores underneath the cap |
| Characteristics of polypores | Grow on rotting trees, stumps, and logs, contain no poisonous species, some have medicinal value |
| Examples of polypores | Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), chicken of the woods |
| Pore colour | White, cream, yellow, orange, or red |
| Spore deposit colour | Olivaceous (yellowish-green), yellowish, brownish, or vinaceous (red-wine coloured) |
| Pores on edible boletes | Can discolour to green or blue |
| Pores on toxic boletes | Red colouring on the mushroom, including the stem, pores, or cap |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Bolete mushrooms: edible and easy to identify
Mushrooms have pores as a means of spore dispersal. The pore-laden area beneath the cap is often quite spongy and made up of small tubes.
Boletes are usually large, fleshy mushrooms with a thick or bulbous stem and no ring, except for some of the Suillus. The stem often has a network of dark lines or spots. The pores under the cap can be white, cream, yellow, orange, or red and are normally easy to remove from the cap. There are about 250 Boletes worldwide, with about 80 identified in the UK.
For novice foragers, there are three rules of identification for edible Boletes:
- Make sure it is a Bolete, an upright mushroom with a stem and sponge-like pores instead of gills under the cap, growing in soil, not on wood.
- Avoid any with red colouring on the mushroom, including the stem, pores, or cap, as this can be a sign of a toxic Bolete.
- Avoid any that stain blue, red, or any other colour when damaged.
Some common edible Boletes include:
- King Bolete or Porcini (Boletus edulis)
- Bay Bolete (Boletus badius)
- Dark Bolete (Boletus aereus)
- Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle)
- Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus)
- Larch Bolete (Suillus grevillei)
Best Places to Trip on Magic Mushrooms
You may want to see also
Polypores: medicinal and non-poisonous
Mushrooms are the visible part of a much larger underground system known as the mycelium, which is made up of countless individual filaments called hyphae. The mycelium sustains the fungus by drawing nutrients from its substrate, such as the soil or roots of trees and other plants.
The Boletus genus is one of the two common groups of mushrooms with pores, the other being polypores. Boletes are characterised by small pores on the spore-bearing hymenial surface (underneath the mushroom), instead of gills. They are usually large, fleshy mushrooms that come in a variety of colours with a thick or bulbous stem and no ring. They are often found growing on the ground near trees, typically in the summer.
Polypores, on the other hand, grow on rotting trees, stumps, and logs, but never on the ground. Unlike boletes, they do not have gills and are non-poisonous. Some polypores, such as the reishi mushroom and the turkey tail, are known for their medicinal value. The chicken of the woods is another example of a polypore with a smooth pore surface under the cap.
When identifying edible boletes, it is important to follow certain rules to stay safe. Firstly, ensure that the mushroom has a stem and sponge-like pores instead of gills, and that it is growing in soil and not on wood. Secondly, avoid any mushrooms with red colouring, as this can indicate toxicity. Finally, slice the mushroom in half vertically, and if the flesh turns vivid blue quickly, avoid consumption due to potential toxicity.
Some boletes are considered choice edibles, such as the porcini mushroom, while others may cause gastric distress. The king bolete is a highly prized culinary mushroom, widely used in Scandinavian cuisine, especially in Finland.
The Sweetest Mushroom: Nature's Candy
You may want to see also
Spore dispersal
Mushrooms have evolved diverse structures for spore dispersal, including gills, pores, and teeth. Pores, which appear as small holes on the underside of the mushroom cap, are a unique spore-producing surface found in members of the family Boletaceae, such as the popular edible Boletus edulis. These pores are the openings of a network of tubes within the mushroom cap, and spores are produced and released through these pores.
The process of spore dispersal through pores occurs in two phases. In the first powered phase, spores are actively ejected from the pore surface by surface tension catapults, clearing the gill or pore surface. This phase requires precise engineering in the mechanism of ejection and the spacing and orientation of the gills or pores. The second phase is passive, where the spores drop below the pileus and are carried away by wind currents in the surrounding environment. Water vapour loss creates slow airflows that aid in dispersal, even in low-wind environments, and can carry spores tens of centimetres into the air.
Wind, animals, and insects further aid in spore dispersal once the spores are released from the pores. The diverse structures for spore dispersal, such as pores, ensure the wide distribution of spores, increasing the chances of successful germination and the growth of new mycelium. Mycelium is the actual organism from which mushrooms are created, and spores function as "'seeds' to initiate this process.
While gills are the most well-known spore-producing surfaces, some mushrooms, like toothed mushrooms, have tooth-like structures on the undersides of their caps that serve as spore-producing surfaces. These teeth are often referred to as spines and are found in mushrooms such as the hedgehog mushroom.
Ashwagandha: Mushroom or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Mushroom identification
Mushrooms are the visible part of a much larger underground system known as the mycelium, which is made up of countless individual filaments called hyphae. They are typically made up of three parts: the cap, the stem (stipe), and the spore-bearing tissue, which is most commonly found as gills or pores beneath the cap.
Gills are thin layers of tissue that hang vertically and radiate out from the stem to the edge of the cap, whereas pores are small holes that are the openings of a series of tubes within the cap, giving an overall sponge-like appearance. Some mushrooms have neither gills nor pores, but instead have "teeth" or spines, which function in the same way as gills.
When identifying mushrooms, it is important to look at the spore-bearing structures as they can tell you a lot about how a mushroom reproduces. For example, the common mushroom family, the Boletus family, is characterised by small pores on the spore-bearing hymenial surface (at the underside of the mushroom) instead of gills. They are usually large, fleshy mushrooms with thick or bulbous stems and no rings, and they are often sought after by mushroom hunters. Boletes are mycorrhizal, meaning they form symbiotic relationships with the roots of trees, so they are mainly found growing on the ground near trees, usually in the summer.
To identify a Bolete, look for an upright mushroom with a stem and sponge-like pores instead of gills under the cap, growing in soil and not on wood. If there is any red colouring on the mushroom, including the stem, pores, or cap, avoid it as it may be toxic. If you slice the mushroom in half vertically and the flesh turns vivid blue quickly, this is also a sign of possible toxicity.
Another group of mushrooms with pores is the polypores, which grow on rotting trees, stumps, and logs, but never on the ground. Polypores contain no poisonous species, so they are a good group to examine when learning to identify mushrooms. Examples include the reishi mushroom and the turkey tail, which has a smooth, white pore surface under the cap.
Mushrooms: Low-Calorie Superfood?
You may want to see also
Varied appearances and difficulties in identification
Mushrooms exhibit a wide variety of appearances, making identification a challenging task. The standard "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, characterised by a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae) underneath the cap. However, many mushrooms deviate from this standard morphology, leading to unique names and classifications. For example, the terms "bolete", "truffle", "puffball", "stinkhorn", and "morel" are used to describe forms that differ from the typical structure.
The Boletaceae family, commonly known as boletes, is a prime example of mushrooms with distinct features. Boletes are characterised by small pores on the spore-bearing surface (hymenial surface) underneath the mushroom, instead of gills. Some boletes, like the king bolete (Boletus edulis), are highly sought-after by mushroom hunters for their culinary and medicinal value. Other boletes, like the bitter bolete, can be a disappointment due to their bitter taste.
Identifying mushrooms based solely on their appearance can be challenging and risky. While most mushrooms are not toxic, some highly poisonous species can be deadly if consumed. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately identify a mushroom before considering consumption. Certain rules, such as avoiding mushrooms with white gills or bulbous bases, can help novices steer clear of poisonous varieties. However, relying solely on these guidelines can be dangerous.
The vast number of mushroom species and their rapid growth can further complicate identification. Taking photographs, collecting samples, and seeking expert advice are recommended when trying to identify mushrooms confidently. Additionally, understanding their microscopic structure, including the presence of pores, gills, or teeth, and their spore-bearing mechanisms, can aid in accurate identification.
Overall, the diverse appearances of mushrooms and the potential risks associated with misidentification underscore the importance of thorough knowledge and caution when exploring and consuming these fascinating fungi.
Mushrooms and Caffeine: A Surprising Truth
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms have pores as a way to disperse spores. The underside of the cap of the mushroom is often spongy and laden with pores.
Boletes and polypores are two common groups of mushrooms with pores. Boletes are mycorrhizal and are found growing on the ground near trees. Polypores, on the other hand, grow on rotting trees, stumps, and logs and are often shaped like shelves.
Mushrooms with pores are different from those with gills in terms of their structure and appearance. While gills are thin, papery structures that hang vertically under the cap, pores are small openings on the underside of the mushroom.
The primary function of pores in mushrooms is to facilitate spore dispersal. The spores are produced on the pore-laden surface and released through the pores, aiding in the propagation of the fungus.
