Ten Quick Facts About Mushrooms

Mushrooms. Such a massive part of everyday life and used by so many people for so many years, yet there still remains an air of mystery about them. As the world gets smaller, our exposure to new and exciting mushrooms gets bigger.

Those fascinating fungi hold a myriad of intriguing secrets. Here are ten quick facts about these extraordinary organisms that will give you a better insight into the wonderful world of mushrooms, and will leave you marveling at their diversity and capabilities and getting you started on your first mushroom grow kit.

1.Mushrooms are fungi that belong to the kingdom Fungi, separate from plants and animals. Fungi are closer to humans than plants are, genetically speaking. Scientists used to think fungi were more like plants, and to this day, most people still assume this is true. However, more recent discoveries show that fungi are closer to animals.

2. There are over 10,000 known species of mushrooms, and scientists estimate that there may be millions of undiscovered species. You never know what gourmet mushrooms you will be eating in 10 years’ time!

3. The part of the mushroom that we typically see above the ground is called the fruiting body or mushroom cap, which houses the spore-producing structures.

4. Mushrooms reproduce through spores, released from the gills or pores underneath the cap and carried by wind or animals to start new growth.

5. Mycelium is the vegetative part of the mushroom, consisting of a network of fine, thread-like filaments called hyphae. It remains hidden underground or within the substrate.

6. Many mushrooms have symbiotic relationships with trees and plants, forming mycorrhizal associations where the mushroom mycelium exchanges nutrients with the plant roots.

7. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties, meaning they emit a soft, glowing light, usually green or blue, in the dark.

8. Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms,” contain psychoactive compounds that can induce hallucinations and alter perception when ingested.

9. Fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems as decomposers, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil.

10. The largest living organism in the world is a honey mushroom. Nicknamed the “Humongous Fungus,” this fungus is located in Malheur National Forest in Oregon (USA). This single organism covers 3.5 miles (2385 acres). It is thought to be around 2400 years old but could be much older.