A mushroom is an above ground fruiting body (that is, a spore-producing
structure) of a fungus, having a shaft and a cap; and by extension, the entire fungus
producing the fruiting body of such appearance, the former consisting of a network (called the mycelium) of filaments or hyphae. In a much broader
sense, mushroom is applied to any visible fungus, or especially the fruiting body of any fungus. The technical term for
the spore-producing structure of "true" mushrooms is the basidiocarp. The term "toadstool" is used typically
to designate a basidiocarp that is poisonous to eat.
Types of mushrooms
The main types of mushrooms are agarics, boletes, chanterelles, tooth fungi, polypores, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, bracket fungi, stinkhorns, and cup fungi. Mushrooms and other fungi are
studied by mycologists. The "true" mushrooms are classified as Basidiomycota (also known as "club fungi"). A few mushrooms are classified by
mycologists as Ascomycota (the "cup fungi"), the morel and truffle being good examples. Thus, the term mushroom is
more one of common application to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies than one
having precise taxonomic meaning.
Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking many cuisines. However, a number of species of mushrooms are poisonous, and
these may resemble edible varieties, although eating them could be fatal. Picking mushrooms in the wild is extremely risky
— far riskier than gathering edible plants — and a practice not to be
undertaken by amateurs. This riskiness is due to the fact that separating edible from poisonous species is dependent upon the
application of only a few easily recognizable traits. People who collect mushrooms for consumption are known as mushroom hunters,
and the act of collecting them as such is called mushroom hunting
— an activity with a potentially deadly outcome that one should not attempt without knowing how to recognize the poisonous
species.
Mushroom structure
Identifying mushrooms requires a basic understanding of their macroscopic structure. A "typical" mushroom consists of a cap or
pileus supported on a stem or stipe. Both can have a variety of shapes and be ornamented in various ways. The
underside of the cap (in agarics) is fitted with gills or lamellae where the actual spores are produced. How the
gills are attached is another important characteristic used in identification. In the boletes, the gills are replaced by small openings called pores.
Bracket fungi essentially lack a stipe, and the cap is attached like a
bracket to the substratum, usually a log or tree trunk. Some bracket fungi have gills, others have pores.
In general, identification to genus can be accomplished in the field using a local
mushroom guide. Identification to species requires more work. Realize that a mushroom
develops from a young bud into a mature structure and only the latter can provide certain identification of the species.
Examination of mature spores, or at least knowing their color, is often essential. And to this end, a common method used to
assist in identification is the spore print.
Chemical properties
Of central interest with respect to chemical properties of mushrooms is the fact that many species produce secondary
metabolites that render them toxic, hallucinogenic, or even bioluminescent. Toxicity likely plays a role in protecting the function of the basidiocarp: the mycelium has
expended considerable energy and protoplasmic material to develop a structure to efficiently distribute its spores. One defense
against consumption and premature destruction is the evolution of chemicals that render the mushroom inedible, either causing the
consumer to regurgitate (see emetics) the meal or avoid consumption altogether (see
Mushroom poisoning).
Currently, many species of mushrooms and fungi utilized as folk medicines for thousands of years are under intense study by
ethnobotanists and medical
researchers. Maitake, Shiitake, and Reishi are prominent among those
being researched for their potential anti-cancer, anti-viral, and/or immunity-enhancement properties.
Psilocybin mushrooms possess hallucinogenic properties and are commonly known as "shrooms" (see Magic mushroom). A number of other mushrooms are eaten for their psychoactive effects, such as Fly Agaric, which has cultural uses in tribes in northeast Siberia as well as reportedly being used by the vikings to induce a berserk mind state preparatory to going into
battle.
Because of these psychoactive properties, some mushrooms have played roles in sacred ceremonies. One such ceremony is the
Velada ceremony. A representative figure of
this use of mushrooms is the shaman, curandera (priest-healer), Maria Sabina.
Some mushrooms have been used as fire starters (known as tinder fungi). Ötzi the Iceman was
found carrying such mushrooms.
External links
Books
Any large detonation of explosives, including that from a nuclear
weapon, produces a mushroom cloud, so named because its shape
resembles a typical mushroom.
A mushroom with magical properties is featured in the book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
Mushrooms are featured in various Nintendo games, starting with the Mario games, and cause Mario and other
characters to become "Super" (i.e., huge and powerful).
Mushrooms can also be used as slang for Cannabis.
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