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34 Things To Know About Mushrooms

When you think about mushrooms, you’ll either think of beef stroganoff, fungi or a drug. However, there’s much more to know about mushrooms that will amuse you. For instance, did you know that fungi, which comprise one of the kingdoms of life, are as diverse and diverse as categories like “plants” and “animals?”

Up to 3.8 million different species could exist on the planet, yet only 148,000 of them have been named. They are virtually everywhere, including your body, forests, the ocean’s bottom, and nuclear reactors. Mushroom species can be found almost anywhere, according to scientists.

Here are 35 things to know about mushrooms.

1. They’re more of our relatives than they’re related to plants

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Fungi were once believed to be related to plants, but in terms of genetics, they are more closely related to animals. They exhale CO2 and take in oxygen, much like us. They depend on other species for sustenance, just like animals, and unlike plants, they do not require sunshine to reproduce.

Moreover, they have chitin in their cell walls, which is also present in the beaks of octopuses, the shells of crustaceans, and the exoskeletons of insects.

2. Mushrooms help trees connect

Every forest and wood has an intricate web of fungi and roots connecting the various trees and plants. The ‘Wood Wide Web’ is another name for it. The majority of plants on earth rely on this nearly 500 million-year-old network of mycorrhizal fungi.

In exchange for the fungi giving them carbon-rich sugar from the roots of the trees, trees and plants provide the fungi nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that they get from the soil. This symbiotic relationship enables trees to communicate underground and alert one another about threatening insects, drought, and disease.

3. Some mushrooms are bioluminescent

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There are bioluminescent mushrooms. Luciferins, the same substances that cause fireflies to light up at night, are responsible for their success. Insects are drawn by using this skill. They then spread the mushroom spores to other parts of the forest, enabling the fungi to grow. Future eco-friendly city lighting is anticipated to utilise bioluminescent fungi.

4. Some mushrooms have “supernatural” powers

The Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, which is located in the Amazon jungle, is the most well-known example of a fungus with the capacity to take over the brains and central nervous systems of animals. The carpenter ant becomes ill with this parasite, which spreads throughout its body before eventually taking control of its brain.

It then forces the kidnapped insect to leave its nest and climb to a nearby plant, which just so happens to be in an environment that is ideal for fungus growth. Here, it eats the ant’s insides over a period of days before sending a long stalk through its head and developing into a spore capsule. This keeps the tragic cycle going as they fall on other innocent victims.

5. Some mushrooms can stay dormant underground for many decades

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The underground mycelium network, which is made up of millions of thread-like hyphae, is the main part of the fungus. Mycelium’s main function is to procreate in order to preserve its species.

For mushrooms to grow they require particular humidity and temperature conditions, in order to reproduce. Some mushrooms can stay underground for many years, if not decades before the correct environmental circumstances allow them to create mushrooms and spread spores.

6. Mushrooms disperse spores in two phases

Spores are released by mushrooms in two stages. They begin by using surface tension slingshots to actively expel spores from the gill surface.

After this phase, there occurs what was once assumed to be a passive phase during which the spores were scattered by whatever breezes were present beneath the mushroom top. Yet, it turns out that the second phase of spore dissemination is not entirely passive and that mushrooms also contribute to this stage.

According to research, certain mushrooms use evaporative cooling to generate convective airflows that can disperse their spores. When there is no wind and they are close to the ground, the airflows produced can raise spores up to 4 inches (10 cm) in the air from gaps that are only 0.4 inches (1 cm) high.

 7. Lightning strikes boost mushroom growth

According to recent research, Japanese farmers have long believed that lightning strikes increased the availability of mushrooms.

Many different varieties of mushrooms responded well to simulated lightning strikes that researchers used to blast them. Yet, shiitake mushrooms are the ones who are most impacted. A shiitake crop can double when exposed to indirect lightning strikes, which causes mushrooms to grow rapidly.

8. Mushrooms make beautiful natural dyes

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Mushrooms can be used on their own or in combination with other substances to create amazing natural colours.

By combining various types of mushrooms and solvents, you can nearly create any colour you can think of. Mushrooms are currently used to dye wool, paper, and other fabrics after being brought to light as a dye source in 1972 by artist Miriam C. Rice. Chanterelles produce a muted yellow hue when coupled with ammonia, oyster mushrooms a grey-green colour, hen of the woods an orange colour, puffballs a rust red colour, lobster mushrooms a bright pink colour, turkey tail a brown colour, and reishi a rust colour.

9. Some businesses use mushroom mycelium for packaging

A biotech business by the name of Ecovative Design is growing strong, entirely compostable packaging materials utilising the mycelium from mushrooms and agricultural leftovers. 

The main difference is that while polystyrene takes roughly 500 years to decompose, mushroom packing just needs 45 days to do it. When creating the mycelium container, they use agricultural leftovers as a substrate. The mycelium is combined with these before being put in a mould. The mycelium then multiplies and covers the substrate. A cost-effective, insulated, and water-resistant packaging material is produced after seven days by stopping the growth using a drying and heat treatment.

10. Mushrooms can be used as a pesticide

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Two organic, cordyceps-based insecticides were invented in 2011 by mycologist Paul Stamets. One pesticide is for termites, carpenter ants, and fire ants, and the other is for 200,000 additional insect species.

Grain is covered with the mycelium of parasitic fungi that target specific insects, drawing the insects who eat the grain or carry it back to their nests. 

11. There’s a mushroom that auto-digests itself

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What you might not know about shaggy mane mushrooms also known as lawyer’s wigs is that they have to be cooked as fast as possible. If you pick them when they’re still in the button stage with white gills and saggy ink cap mushrooms then you’re in luck because they usually have a black liquid carrying spores that fills the pink-tinged gills. 

After spreading the spores, the mushroom uses auto-digestion to eat itself. A shaggy ink cap typically has 24 hours to be used before they degrade into an unpalatable black sludge after being picked up and initiating auto-digestion.

12. Mushrooms produce vitamin D

Only mushrooms are found in the fresh vegetable department of the grocery store. Almost all edible mushrooms create considerable levels of Vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet light from sunshine or an ultraviolet lamp. Some produce almost as much as commercial vitamin D pills.

Ergosterol, a pro-vitamin found in mushrooms, is similar to that found in humans and, when exposed to ultraviolet light, transforms into vitamin D. Maitake mushrooms, portabella mushrooms, crimini or brown mushrooms, white mushrooms, and button mushrooms are all top vitamin D providers.

 13. Mushrooms help fight age-related diseases

Researchers discovered that mushrooms are rich in ergothioneine and glutathione, two important antioxidants that help prevent age-related diseases.

The amounts of ergothioneine and glutathione in mushrooms vary by species, with porcini mushrooms having high concentrations of the two substances. These antioxidants are less abundant in common mushrooms like button or white mushrooms. However, they still contain more than most other foods.

14. Mushrooms don’t have a lot of calories

Compared to other foods, low-energy-density foods have fewer calories per gramme. The density of food is determined by its chemical makeup. Because they contain 80–90% water, have few calories, no fat, no cholesterol, and no gluten, mushrooms are low energy dense and perfect for persons who are controlling their weight.

15. 2,189 mushrooms are edible

Contrary to what many people think, there are a lot of mushrooms that are safe and considered edible to eat. But, how do you know which one is safe and which one is not? it’s not an easy task. There are concerns due to contradicting reports of reactions to mushrooms and those who are more allergic than others, so it is always better to be cautious than sorry.

According to a recent evidence-based classification system for mushrooms, there are 2,189 edible mushrooms. 2006 of them can be consumed, while 183 need to be treated first.

16. The most expensive mushroom is at $50,000 per pound

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The caterpillar fungus, also known as Yartsa Gunbu, is a parasitic fungus that takes advantage of the host caterpillar it is parasitizing to develop a mushroom out of the caterpillar’s head. They are the priciest mushrooms in the world and eating them is seen as a status symbol, costing $50,000 a pound (£80,500 per kilogramme) or $2,000 for one ounce.

17. Scientists discovered the first mushroom that could digest polyurethane plastic 

In 2011 and 2017, researchers identified the first and second fungi capable of breaking down polyurethane plastic, respectively. Since then, they have found more than 50 different varieties of mushrooms that can eat and decompose various kinds of plastics. Katharina Unger of LIVIN Studio and the microbiology faculty at Utrecht University developed a project called the Fungi Mutarium with the idea of developing fungi that can break down plastic. 

Throughout the experiment, oyster and split gill mycelium, two common edible mushroom species, were used. The mycelium of the fungi was grown around edible agar pods containing plastic bits. The plastic was soon totally destroyed by the fungi, which also created a little mycelium snack.

18. The death cap mushroom contains enough toxins to kill an adult

These dangerous mushrooms can be found in both Europe and the US. An adult can be killed by eating just half of a death cap (Amanita phalloides) mushroom.

According to reports, they are massive and meaty with a delicious aroma and taste, and they resemble multiple kinds of edible mushrooms. When consumed, the amatoxins found in death cap mushrooms quickly harm cells throughout the body and may tolerate cooking temperatures. Violent abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and extreme thirst are all symptoms of the amatoxins within 12 hours. And within 72 hours, there is serious liver damage, which can cause a coma or even death.

19. Fairy rings are naturally occurring circles from mushrooms

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Fairy rings are circles from mushrooms that grow naturally and repeat every year in woodlands and grassy areas. Fairy rings have drawn people from all over the world for thousands of years, and they are the focus of many stories from the past. However, there is a scientific justification.

Some mushrooms’ seeds germinate when they fall in the right places, and their mycelium spreads from the centre. The mycelium network becomes larger to reach more nutrients as it spreads out in a circle, breaking down all the organic materials it comes into contact with.

20. There’s no difference between a toadstool and a mushroom

A toadstool and a mushroom are the same thing, scientifically speaking. Toadstools aren’t a particular species or group of fungi, so there isn’t a way to differentiate between them specifically.

However, the term “toadstool” is typically used to refer to edible, toxic, or colourful mushrooms. Toadstools tend to be imagined as brightly coloured mushrooms with distinct caps and stalks.

21. Giant mushrooms used to exist

Towering mushrooms that were 24 feet (7.3 metres) tall and 3 feet (90 cm) wide covered the landscape more than 350 million years ago, when all terrestrial plants could only reach a few feet in height.

A fossil discovered in Saudi Arabia that was chemically analysed reveals that the 20 feet (6 metres) tall organism was a fungus that went extinct more than 350 million years ago. John William Dawson, a Canadian, made the initial discovery of these species’ fossils, known as prototaxites, in 1859. But nobody knew what the massive structures were. Up until 2007, when a study came to the conclusion that the spires were actually some kind of enormous mushroom. 

22. Humans have known how to use mushrooms for thousands of years

A 5,300-year-old mummified body was discovered in 1991 by hikers in a melting glacier in the Italian Alps. The Iceman, who was given the name Otzi by researchers, has helped us understand how people lived. He had two different kinds of mushrooms with him, which is unusual and suggests that people had been using mushrooms for thousands of years.

He carried two pieces of birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) on separate leather thongs. Also, a leather pouch with several pieces of tinder polypore (Fomes fomentarius). Historically, people have used tinder polypores to start fires and make fabrics that resemble felt. And it’s thought that he was employing the birch polypore for therapeutic purposes to get rid of intestinal parasites.

23. Ancient Egyptians referred to mushrooms as plants of immortality

Ancient Egyptians regarded mushrooms as plants of immortality and thought they were a gift from the God Osiris in hieroglyphics that date back more than 4600 years. Because they were so valued, only royalty was permitted to eat mushrooms and commoners were forbidden from touching them.

24. You don’t need a sterile environment to grow mushrooms

People tend to believe that to grow mushrooms, you need a sterile environment, a heat-sterilized substrate, and specialised grow rooms. Fortunately, this is untrue, and mushroom growers can get started without having to spend a lot of money on expensive equipment.

We advise growing oyster mushrooms quickly on sawdust pellets or coffee grounds that have already been pasteurised. There is significantly less to understand, and it takes considerably less time to get started and expand.

25. Some mushrooms have hallucinogenic properties

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Psilocybin and psilocin, two substances found in certain mushrooms, are responsible for their psychedelic properties. The “magic mushrooms” contain these organic compounds, which have hallucinogenic effects. Psilocin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood and perception, is produced in the body from psilocybin after ingestion. Psilocin is similar to serotonin.

Thoughts, emotions, and sensory perceptions are changed when psilocin binds to serotonin receptors in the brain. These side effects include auditory and visual hallucinations, adjustments to how time is perceived, and a sense of oneness. 

26. There’s a mushroom that looks like chicken

If you’re a vegetarian who still wants to have something that tastes a little meaty then this is the right mushroom for you. Laetiporus sulphureus, sometimes known as “Chicken of the Woods,” is a colourful and eye-catching mushroom valued for its unique shape and vivid yellow-orange colour.

The name comes from the way it grows on trees, where it forms shelf-like clusters that resemble layers of chicken meat. It has been described as meaty because of its texture and is an alternative to chicken. 

27. Mushrooms can grow incredibly quickly

Mushrooms have the capacity to grow remarkably fast. Some mushrooms develop small pinheads to fully developed fruiting bodies in a matter of days, especially in the right circumstances. This growth happens because of the mycelium, the fungus’s root-like structure that spreads through the ground and provides support for the mushroom’s rapid growth.

28. Some cultures believe that mushrooms have magical properties

Mushrooms are unique enough that some cultures actually think that they have magical qualities. Some cultures see mushrooms as gates to other worlds, while others believe that they help with fertility and bring good luck. All these beliefs are centred around the fact that they seem to appear overnight, basically sort of sprouting from nowhere.

For example, in India, some communities use mushrooms for traditional rituals and practices. In Siberia, they use the fly agaric mushroom in shamanic rituals and some Russians believe it’s a symbol of good luck and fortune. 

29. Mushrooms come in different shapes and sizes

Mushrooms come in a variety of sizes and shapes. From the traditional umbrella-like cap of the common White Button Mushroom to the wacky colourful forms of wild mushrooms. If you’ve seen mushrooms you may notice that some are delicate tower-like shapes that are tall and pretty lean. Some of the mushrooms have unique characteristics that make them easy to recognize, such as gills, pores or teeth.

30. Mushrooms heavily contribute to the economy

Mushrooms have a high impact on the economy in many ways. Farming is a profitable business and growing mushrooms can get you a good amount of money. 

Commercial mushroom farming offers job opportunities, and the mushroom industry makes money by selling both processed and fresh mushrooms as well as products made from mushrooms, like dietary supplements and extracts for use in medicine. Furthermore employed in the biotechnology, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, mushrooms have a greater economic impact.

31. There’s a mushroom that can turn into ink

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These mushrooms grow fast and turn into black slime even faster! For good reason, the mushrooms that go through this melting process are called “ink caps” and the process is known as deliquescence. The liquid that is created when the mushroom turns into “ink” can be utilised as *actual ink* for writing letters, calligraphy, and creative projects.

All it takes, according to artist Abigail Whelan, is to reduce and sift the mushroom liquid to get usable ink! None of these things is required to produce a useful product; you can add clove oil to prevent mould, binders if you choose, or water to dilute if you reduce the product too much.

32. Some mushrooms change the colour of the wood they grow on

Xylindein is a unique pigment that is produced by these lovely, small-cup mushrooms. This pigment is also produced by the mycelium (roots, for fungus) of these mushrooms, which gives the wood it grows on a stunning, naturally occurring blue-green tint.

33. The largest living organism on earth is a mushroom species

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A type of mushroom called Armillaria ostoyae is the largest living thing on the planet. Scientists believe that this fungus is 2400 years old, though it wasn’t discovered until 1998; it may even be 8650 years old. Unbelievably, the Armillaria is larger than the blue whale, which, up until that point, held the record for the largest living animal on Earth.

Because of their bright yellow caps and delicious fruiting bodies, the Armillaria ostayae mushroom species is also more generally referred to as honey mushrooms.

34. Some mushrooms have more potassium than bananas

The good news is that there are other options that have the same nutritional profile if you dislike bananas. According to reports, bananas contain a remarkable 358 mg of potassium per 100g of fruit, making them a great source of the mineral. In contrast, 364mg of potassium is present in 100g of raw portobello mushrooms. Avocados, peanuts, almonds, pecans, citrus fruit, green leafy vegetables, milk, and potatoes are additional excellent sources of potassium.

Mushrooms may seem a little weird and you may be afraid to try some out because of all the differences, however, what we can confirm is that the right mushroom is good for your health and can actually help improve your health. So, the next time you’re weary you can open this article up and read all about the different mushroom facts just for reconfirmation.