Mushrooms are the 'fruit' of a fungus. Most fungus goes unseen, hiding underground or hidden in plain sight, but it all serves an important purpose in nature. Fungi can't make their own food through photosynthesis so they have to get their food from the environment. A lot of fungi are decomposers, breaking down dead things and returning nutrients to the ecosystem. Let's learn about mushrooms and see what we can find!
Parts of a Mushroom
The image below represents a composite mushroom that shows all the major parts that might be found on a mushroom. Find a mushroom near the trail. How many different parts can you identify?
*note: not all mushrooms have all of these parts
Oh, Mycellium!
Tap the image above to reveal what's beneath
The mycelium, or “body” of the fungus, is usually hidden underground. The myceluim is made up of thread-like cells called hyphae which release enzymes and absorb nutrients. Turn over a decomposing stick. Or look under a rock or log. Can you find the threads of a mycelium?
Mushroom Hunt!
Agarics(Gilled mushrooms)
Most agarics are shaped like umbrellas; they have an open cap and a stalk. These gilled mushrooms have tiny ridges (gills) on the underside of the cap where the spores are released. Tap each mushroom to check them off as you find them.
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Destroying Angel
Amanita bisporagera -
Honey Fungus
Genus: Armillaria -
Sickener
Russula emetica
Boletes
Boletes have a stalk and a round cap but unlike gilled mushrooms, the underside of the cap is spongy. Tap each mushroom to check them off as you find them.
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Slippery Jack
Suillus brevipes -
False Earthstar
Astraeus hygrometricus
Bracket Fungi
Often growing on tree trunks, shelf fungi look like, well, shelves. Many shelf fungi can be found throughout the year because they are woody. Look for tiny ridges on the underside of the shelf where the spores are released. Tap each mushroom to check them off as you find them.
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Turkey Tail
Trametes Versicolor -
Chicken of the Woods
Laetiporus sulfureus
Digging in - What did we learn?
Answer the questions below to test your knowledge of fungi.
Q. Which of these structures is NOT part of a mushroom?
Q. True or False? - Fungi use photosynthesis to make their own food.
When you finish your hike, tap the button below to TRACK your adventure!