The mushroom Amanita muscaria, commonly known as "fly agaric"

A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita is a poisonous and Psychoactive Basidiomycete Fungus, In Biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions The sporocarp of a Basidiomycete is known as a Basidiocarp, while the fruiting body of an Ascomycete is known as an Ascocarp. A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, hence the word mushroom is most often applied to fungi (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes) that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae, sing. Agaricus bisporus, known as table mushroom, cultivated mushroom or button mushroom, is an edible Basidiomycete Fungus which Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla that together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya, which were in general what were called The class Agaricomycetes includes not only Mushrooms but also most species placed in the old outdated taxa Gasteromycetes and Homobasidiomycetes. In Mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a Mushroom. The pileus is the technical name for what is commonly known as the cap of a Fungal Fruiting body. lamella) on the underside of the cap just as do store-bought white mushrooms. A gill, or lamella, is one of the papery ribs under the cap of a mushroom most often but not always an Agaric. However, "mushroom" can also refer to a wide variety of gilled fungi, with or without stems, and the term is used even more generally to describe both the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota and the woody or leathery fruiting bodies of some Basidiomycota, depending upon the context of the word. Ascomycota is a Division / Phylum of Fungi, and subkingdom Dikarya, whose members are commonly known as the Sac Fungi. Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla that together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya, which were in general what were called Forms deviating from the standard form usually have more specific names, such as "puffball", "stinkhorn", and "morel", and gilled mushrooms themselves are often called "agarics" in reference to their similarity to Agaricus or their placement in the order Agaricales. A puffball is a member of any of a number of groups of fungus in the division Basidiomycota. The Phallaceae or stinkhorns, are a family of Basidiomycetes which produce a foul-scented Phallus -shaped Mushroom. An agaric is a type of Fungal Fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe, with Agaricus is a large and important genus of Mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species with possibly over 300 members worldwide The order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms (for their distinctive gills, or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of Mushrooms By extension, "mushroom" can also designate the entire fungus when in culture or the thallus (called a mycelium) of species forming the fruiting bodies called mushrooms. For the chronologer/historian occasionally mentioned in the works of early Christian writers see Thallus (historian. Mycelium (plural mycelia) is the vegetative part of a Fungus, consisting of a mass of branching thread-like Hyphae The mass of hyphae is sometimes called

Identification

Identifying mushrooms requires a basic understanding of their macroscopic structure. Macroscopic is commonly used to describe physical objects that are measurable and observable by the Naked eye. Most are Basidiomycetes and gilled. Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla that together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya, which were in general what were called Their spores, called basidiospores, are produced on the gills and fall in a fine rain of powder from under the caps as a result. A basidiospore is a reproductive Spore produced by Basidiomycete Fungi. At the microscopic level the basidiospores are shot off of basidia and then fall between the gills in the dead air space. A basidium (pl basidia) is a microscopic spore-producing structure found on the Hymenophore of fruiting bodies of basidiomycete fungi As a result, for most mushrooms, if the cap is cut off and placed gill-side-down overnight, a powdery impression reflecting the shape of the gills (or pores, or spines, etc. ) is formed (when the fruitbody is sporulating). The color of the powdery print, called a spore print, is used to help classify mushrooms and can help to identify them. The spore print of a Mushroom is an important diagnostic character in most handbooks for identifying mushrooms Spore print colors include white (most common), brown, black, purple-brown, pink, yellow, and cream, but almost never blue, green, or red.

While modern identification of mushrooms is quickly becoming molecular, the standard methods for identification are still used by most and have developed into a fine art harking back to medieval times and the Victorian era, combined with microscopic examination. Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities The presence of juices upon breaking, bruising reactions, odors, tastes, shades of color, habitat, habit, and season are all considered by mycologists, amateur and professional alike. Tasting and smelling mushrooms carries its own hazards because of poisons and allergens. An allergen is a nonparasitic Antigen capable of stimulating a Type-I hypersensitivity reaction in atopic individuals Chemical tests are also used for some genera.

In general, identification to genus can often be accomplished in the field using a local mushroom guide. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Identification to species, however, requires more effort; one must remember that a mushroom develops from a button stage into a mature structure, and only the latter can provide certain characteristics needed for the identification of the species. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. However, over-mature specimens lose features and cease producing spores. Many novices have mistaken humid water marks on paper for white spore prints, or discolored paper from oozing liquids on lamella edges for colored spored prints.

Classification

The genus Trichaptum, an example of a polypore, a mushroom without a stalk, fruiting on a log

Main articles: Sporocarp (fungi), Basidiocarp, and Ascocarp

Typical mushrooms are the fruitbodies of members of the order Agaricales, whose type genus is Agaricus and type species is the field mushroom, Agaricus campestris. Polypores are a group of tough leathery poroid Mushrooms similar to Boletes, but typically lacking a distinct stalk The sporocarp of a Basidiomycete is known as a Basidiocarp, while the fruiting body of an Ascomycete is known as an Ascocarp. A basidiocarp, basidiome or basidioma (plural basidiomata) is the sporocarp of a Basidiomycete, the Multi-cellular An ascocarp, or ascoma (plural ascomata) is the fruiting body ( Sporocarp) of an Ascomycete fungus The order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms (for their distinctive gills, or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of Mushrooms Agaricus is a large and important genus of Mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species with possibly over 300 members worldwide Agaricus campestris, commonly known as the Field mushroom or in North America Meadow mushroom, is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely However, in modern molecularly defined classifications, not all members of the order Agaricales produce mushroom fruitbodies, and many other gilled fungi, collectively called mushrooms, occur in other orders in the class Agaricomycetes. The class Agaricomycetes includes not only Mushrooms but also most species placed in the old outdated taxa Gasteromycetes and Homobasidiomycetes. For example, chanterelles are in the Cantharellales, false chanterelles like Gomphus are in the Gomphales, milk mushrooms (Lactarius) and russulas (Russula) as well as Lentinellus are in the Russulales, while the tough leathery genera Lentinus and Panus are among the Polyporales, but Neolentinus is in the Gloeophyllales, and the little pin-mushroom genus, Rickenella, along with similar genera, are in the Hymenochaetales. Cantharellus is a genus with many popular Edible mushrooms It is a Mycorrhizal edible Fungus, meaning it forms Symbiotic associations The order Cantharellales is a group of Fungi that includes the chanterelles the Tooth fungi, and some Club fungi. Gomphales are an order of Basidiomycete Fungi. Some or all families belonging to Gomphales are sometimes included in the order Phallales (and Fungi of the genus Lactarius, sometimes called milk-caps, are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid ('latex' if cut or damaged Around 750 worldwide species of mycorrhizal mushrooms compose the genus Russula. Lentinellus is a white rot wood decay lamellate Agaric in the family Auriscalpiaceae, further characterized in part by rough-walled The' Russulales' is an order of the Agaricomycetes, (which include the agaric genera Russula and Lactarius and their In Male Human Anatomy, the foreskin or prepuce (a technically broader term that also includes the Clitoral hood, the homologous Polyporales (earlier known as Aphyllophorales) are important decomposers of wood Neolentinus is a wood decaying genus of agarics with tough (leathery to woody fruitbodies composed of dimitic tissue serrated Lamella edges and Gloeophyllales is a phylogenetically defined order of wood-decay fungi that is characterized by the ability to produce a brown rot of wood A genus of brightly colored bryophilous Agarics in the Hymenochaetales that have an omphalinoid morphology [http//www The Hymenochaetales is an order of Basidiomycete Fungi. This group contains a number of Corticioid fungi, Polypores, such as Inotus

Within the main body of mushrooms, in the Agaricales, are common fungi like the common fairy-ring mushroom (Marasmius oreades), shiitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms, fly agarics, and other amanitas, magic mushrooms like species of Psilocybe, paddy straw mushrooms, shaggy manes, etc. The order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms (for their distinctive gills, or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of Mushrooms There are about 300 Species of agarics in the genus Marasmius (family Marasmiaceae) of which a few such as Marasmius oreades The shiitake ( Lentinula edodes) is an Edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries as well as being dried Enokitake ( Chinese: 金[[wiktionary 針|針]] 菇, Pinyin: jīnzhēngū; Japanese: えのき茸 enokitake The Oyster mushroom, or Pleurotus ostreatus, is a common mushroom prized for its edibility Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita is a poisonous and Psychoactive Basidiomycete Fungus, The Genus Amanita contains about 600 Species of Agarics including some of the most Toxic known mushrooms found worldwide Psilocybe is a Genus of small Mushrooms growing worldwide This genus is best known for its species with hallucinogenic properties widely Volvariella is a Genus of Mushrooms with pink gills and spore prints Coprinus comatus, the shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig, or shaggy mane, is a common Fungus often seen growing on lawns along gravel

An atypical mushroom is the Lobster mushroom, which is a deformed, cooked-lobster-colored parasitized fruitbody of a Russula or Lactarius colored and deformed by the mycoparasitic Ascomycete Hypomyces lactifluorum. Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between Organisms of different Species. Around 750 worldwide species of mycorrhizal mushrooms compose the genus Russula. Fungi of the genus Lactarius, sometimes called milk-caps, are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid ('latex' if cut or damaged Ascomycota is a Division / Phylum of Fungi, and subkingdom Dikarya, whose members are commonly known as the Sac Fungi. ^[1]

Other mushrooms are non-gilled, and then the term "mushroom" is loosely used, so that it is difficult to give a full account of their classifications. Some have pores underneath (and are usually called boletes), others have spines, such as the hedgehog mushroom and other tooth fungi, and so on. A bolete is a type of fungal Fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe, with Hydnum repandum, commonly known as the Wood Hedgehog or Hedgehog mushroom, is a basidiomycete Mushroom of the Family Hydnaceae Tooth fungi are a relatively small polyphyletic group of fungi whose Mushroom bears its spores on a Hymenium - a layer of "mother cells "Mushroom" has been used for polypores, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, bracket fungi, stinkhorns, and cup fungi. Polypores are a group of tough leathery poroid Mushrooms similar to Boletes, but typically lacking a distinct stalk A puffball is a member of any of a number of groups of fungus in the division Basidiomycota. The class Heterobasidiomycetes or jelly fungi is a Paraphyletic group of several fungal orders Tremellales, Auriculariales, Coral fungi, also sometimes called antler fungi, are Mushrooms that are so named due to their resemblance to aquatic Coral or antlers Bracket fungi, or shelf fungi, are fungi, in the phylum Basidiomycota. The Phallaceae or stinkhorns, are a family of Basidiomycetes which produce a foul-scented Phallus -shaped Mushroom. Cup fungi are fungi ( Ascomycota: family Pezizaceae) which produce a Mushroom that tends to grow in the shape of a "cup" Thus, the term mushroom is more one of common application to macroscopic fungal fruiting bodies than one having precise taxonomic meaning. Macroscopic is commonly used to describe physical objects that are measurable and observable by the Naked eye. Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification The word comes from the Greek, taxis (meaning 'order' 'arrangement' and, nomos There are approximately 14,000 described species of mushrooms. ^[2]

The relative sizes of the cap (pileus) and stalk (stipe) vary widely. In Mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a Mushroom. Shown here is a species of Macrolepiota.

Mushroom vs. toadstool

The terms "mushroom" and "toadstool" go back centuries and were never precisely defined, nor was there consensus on application. The term "toadstool" was often but not exclusively applied to poisonous mushrooms or to those that have the classic umbrella-like cap-and-stem form. Between 1400 and 1600 A. D. , the terms tadstoles, frogstooles, frogge stoles, tadstooles, tode stoles, toodys hatte, paddockstool, puddockstool, paddocstol, toadstoole, and paddockstooles sometimes were used synonymously with mushrom, mushrum, muscheron, mousheroms, mussheron, or musserouns. ^[3] The term "mushroom" and its variations may have been derived from the French word mousseron in reference to moss (mousse). There may have been a direct connection to toads (in reference to poisonous properties) for toadstools. A toad can refer to a number of Species of Amphibians in the order Anura. However, there is no clear-cut delineation between edible and poisonous fungi, so that a "mushroom" may be edible, poisonous, or unpalatable. The term "toadstool" is nowadays used in storytelling when referring to poisonous or suspect mushrooms. The classic example of a toadstool is Amanita muscaria. Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita is a poisonous and Psychoactive Basidiomycete Fungus,

Growth rates

Many species of mushrooms seemingly appear overnight, growing or expanding rapidly. This phenomenon is the source of several common expressions in the English language including "to mushroom" or "mushrooming" (expanding rapidly in size or scope) and "to pop up like a mushroom" (to appear unexpectedly and quickly). English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States In actuality all species of mushrooms take several days to form primordial mushroom fruitbodies, though they do expand rapidly by the absorption of fluids. The cultivated mushroom as well as the common field mushroom initially form a minute fruiting body, referred to as the pin stage because of their small size. Agaricus bisporus, known as table mushroom, cultivated mushroom or button mushroom, is an edible Basidiomycete Fungus which Agaricus campestris, commonly known as the Field mushroom or in North America Meadow mushroom, is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely The sporocarp of a Basidiomycete is known as a Basidiocarp, while the fruiting body of an Ascomycete is known as an Ascocarp. Slightly expanded they are called buttons, once again because of the relative size and shape. Once such stages are formed, the mushroom can rapidly pull in water from its mycelium and expand, mainly by inflating preformed cells that took several days to form in the primordia. Mycelium (plural mycelia) is the vegetative part of a Fungus, consisting of a mass of branching thread-like Hyphae The mass of hyphae is sometimes called The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called A primordium, in Embryology, is defined as an organ or tissue in its earliest recognizable stage of development Similarly, there are even more ephemeral mushrooms, like Parasola plicatilis ([1] formerly Coprinus plicatlis), that literally appear overnight and may disappear by late afternoon on a hot day after rainfall. The Psathyrellaceae is a family of dark-spored Agarics that generally have rather soft fragile fruiting bodies and are characterized by black or dark brown rarely reddish The genus Coprinus is a small genus of Mushrooms consisting of Coprinus comatus (the shaggy mane and several of its close relatives The primordia form at ground level in lawns in humid spaces under the thatch and after heavy rainfall or in dewy conditions balloon to full size in a few hours, release spores, and then collapse. Formation Water will condense into droplets depending on the temperature They "mushroom" to full size. The slang term "mushrooms" is a gang-related term for victims accidentally shot as collateral damage simply because they popped up suddenly, as do fungal mushrooms. Slang is the use of highly informal Words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's Dialect or Language. ^[4]

Yellow, flower pot mushrooms (Leucocoprinus birnbaumii) at various states of development

Not all mushrooms expand overnight; some grow very slowly and add tissue to their fruitbodies by growing from the edges of the colony or by inserting hyphae. Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, the yellow houseplant mushroom, previously known as Lepiota lutea, is a common Fungus that grows in many house A hypha (plural hyphae) is a long branching filamentous cell of a Fungus, and also of unrelated Actinobacteria.

Size and age

Though mushroom fruiting bodies are short-lived, the underlying mycelial colony can itself be long-lived and massive. A colony of Armillaria ostoyae in Malheur National Forest in the United States is estimated to be 2,400 years old, possibly older, and spans an estimated 2,200 acres. Armillaria ostoyae is a Fungus commonly known as a Honey mushroom, and sometimes called Shoestring Rot. The Malheur National Forest is a National Forest in the US state of Oregon. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Most of the fungus is underground and in decaying wood or dying tree roots in the form of white mycelia combined with black shoelace-like rhizomorphs that bridge colonized separated woody substrates. Mycelial cords are linear aggregations of parallel-oriented hyphae. ^[5]

Human use

The button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), one of the most widely cultivated mushrooms in the world. Agaricus bisporus, known as table mushroom, cultivated mushroom or button mushroom, is an edible Basidiomycete Fungus which

Further information: Ethnomycology

Edible mushrooms

Main articles: Edible mushrooms, Mushroom hunting, and Fungiculture

Edible mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines (notably Chinese, European, and Japanese). Ethnomycology is the study of the historical uses and sociological impact of Fungi (a An edible mushroom is a Mushroom that can potentially be safely eaten including thousands of types of mushrooms that are regularly harvested Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking and similar terms describe the activity of gathering Mushrooms in the wild typically for eating Fungiculture is the process of producing food medicine and other products by the cultivation of Mushrooms and other Fungi. An edible mushroom is a Mushroom that can potentially be safely eaten including thousands of types of mushrooms that are regularly harvested Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible Cuisine (from French cuisine, "cooking culinary art kitchen" ultimately from Latin coquere, "to cook" is a specific set Chinese cuisine ( Traditional Chinese: 中國菜 Simplified Chinese: 中国菜 originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in European cuisine, or alternatively Western cuisine is a generalized term collectively referring to the Cuisines of Europe and other Western countries Japanese Cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes Though mushrooms are commonly thought to have little nutritional value, many species are high in fiber and provide vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, cobalamins, ascorbic acid. For the similarly spelled pyrimidine see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 Riboflavin ( E101) also known as vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed Micronutrient with a key role in maintaining Health Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the deficiency disease Pellagra. Vitamin H redirects here In medical slang "vitamin H" may also refer to Haloperidol. Cyanocobalamin is an especially common Vitamer of the B-12 vitamin family. This article deals with the molecular aspects of ascorbic acid Though not normally a significant source of vitamin D, some mushrooms can become significant sources after exposure to ultraviolet light, though this also darkens their skin. Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble Prohormones, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 (or Ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or Ultraviolet ( UV) light is Electromagnetic radiation with a Wavelength shorter than that of Visible light, but longer than X-rays ^[6] Mushrooms are also a source of some minerals, including iron, selenium, potassium and phosphorus. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Selenium (səˈliniəm is a Chemical element with the Atomic number 34 represented by the chemical symbol Se, an atomic mass of 78 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15

Most mushrooms that are sold in supermarkets have been commercially grown on mushroom farms. Fungiculture is the process of producing food medicine and other products by the cultivation of Mushrooms and other Fungi. The most popular of these, Agaricus bisporus, is safe for most people to eat because it is grown in controlled, sterilized environments, though some individuals do not tolerate it well. Agaricus bisporus, known as table mushroom, cultivated mushroom or button mushroom, is an edible Basidiomycete Fungus which Several varieties of A. bisporus are grown commercially, including whites, crimini, and portabello. Agaricus bisporus, known as table mushroom, cultivated mushroom or button mushroom, is an edible Basidiomycete Fungus which Agaricus bisporus, known as table mushroom, cultivated mushroom or button mushroom, is an edible Basidiomycete Fungus which Other cultivated species now available at many grocers include shiitake, maitake or hen-of-the-woods, oyster, and enoki. The shiitake ( Lentinula edodes) is an Edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries as well as being dried Grifola frondosa, referring to a mythical Griffin, commonly known as Sheep’s Head, Ram’s Head and Hen of the Woods or Maitake Grifola frondosa, referring to a mythical Griffin, commonly known as Sheep’s Head, Ram’s Head and Hen of the Woods or Maitake The Oyster mushroom, or Pleurotus ostreatus, is a common mushroom prized for its edibility Enokitake ( Chinese: 金[[wiktionary 針|針]] 菇, Pinyin: jīnzhēngū; Japanese: えのき茸 enokitake

Mushroom and Truffle output in 2005

There are a number of species of mushroom that are poisonous, and although some resemble certain edible species, eating them could be fatal. A truffle ( is the valuable and highly sought-after edible Fruiting body of a group of subterranean Ascomycete fungi of the Genus In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by Eating mushrooms gathered in the wild is risky and should not be undertaken by individuals not knowledgeable in mushroom identification, unless the individuals limit themselves to a relatively small number of good edible species that are visually distinctive. More generally, and particularly with gilled mushrooms, separating edible from poisonous species requires meticulous attention to detail; there is no single trait by which all toxic mushrooms can be identified, nor one by which all edible mushrooms can be identified.

People who collect mushrooms for consumption are known as mycophagists, and the act of collecting them for such is known as mushroom hunting, or simply "mushrooming". Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking and similar terms describe the activity of gathering Mushrooms in the wild typically for eating

Toxic mushrooms

Main article: Mushroom poisoning

The Panther cap (Amanita pantherina), a toxic mushroom

Of central interest with respect to the chemical properties of mushrooms is the fact that many species produce secondary metabolites that render them toxic, mind-altering, or even bioluminescent. See also List of deadly fungi Mushroom poisoning, also known as mycetism, refers to deleterious effects from ingestion of Toxic substances present The panther cap ( Amanita pantherina) also known as the false blusher due to its similarity to the true Blusher ( Amanita rubescens), is Secondary metabolites are Organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development or Reproduction of Organisms Bioluminescence' is the production and emission of Light by a living Organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted Though there are only a small number of deadly species, several have particularly severe and unpleasant symptoms. Footnotes 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 vomit (see emetics) the meal or avoid consumption altogether. Vomiting (also called throwing up, emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's Stomach through the Mouth and sometimes the

Psychoactive mushrooms

Main article: Psychedelic mushrooms

Psilocybin mushrooms possess psychedelic properties. Psilocybin (IPA /saɪləˈsaɪbɪn/ (also known as psilocybine) is a psychedelic Indole of the Tryptamine family found in Psilocybin Psychopharmacology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" grc φάρμακον pharmakon, "drug" and grc -λογία They are commonly known as "magic mushrooms" "mush" or "shrooms" and are available in smart shops in many parts of the world, though some countries have outlawed their sale. A smart shop (or smartshop) is a retail establishment that specializes in the sales of psychoactive substances usually including Psychedelics as well as related literature A number of other mushrooms are eaten for their psychoactive effects, such as fly agaric, which is used for shamanic purposes by tribes in northeast Siberia, Russia. Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly Amanita is a poisonous and Psychoactive Basidiomycete Fungus, Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving They have also been used in the West to potentiate, or increase, religious experiences. Because of their psychoactive properties, some mushrooms have played a role in native medicine, where they have been used in an attempt to effect mental and physical healing, and to facilitate visionary states. One such ritual is the Velada ceremony. Velada is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. A practitioner of traditional mushroom use is the shaman and curandera (priest-healer) María Sabina. A curandero (or curandera for a female is a traditional Folk healer or Shaman in Hispanic America, who is dedicated to curing physical and/or María Sabina García ( 1888 - November 23, 1985) was a Mazatec Medicine woman who lived her whole life in a modest dwelling in the

Medicinal mushrooms

Currently, many species of mushrooms and fungi used in folk medicine for thousands of years are under intense study by ethnobotanists and medical researchers. The term traditional medicine ( Indigenous medicine or folk medicine) describes medical knowledge systems which developed over centuries within various societies Ethnobotany ( from " ethnology " - study of culture and " Botany " - study of plants) is the scientific study of the relationships Maitake, shiitake, chaga, and reishi are prominent among those being researched for their potential anti-cancer, anti-viral, or immunity-enhancing properties. Grifola frondosa, referring to a mythical Griffin, commonly known as Sheep’s Head, Ram’s Head and Hen of the Woods or Maitake The shiitake ( Lentinula edodes) is an Edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries as well as being dried Chaga ( Inonotus obliquus) also known as tinder mushroom is a fungus in Hymenochaetaceae family Língzhī (traditional Chinese 靈芝; simplified Chinese 灵芝; Japanese reishi; Korean yeongji, hangul 영지 is the name for one Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled A virus (from the Latin virus meaning Toxin or Poison) is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable Psilocybin, originally an extract of certain psychedelic mushrooms, is being studied for its ability to help people suffering from mental disease, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psilocybin (IPA /saɪləˈsaɪbɪn/ (also known as psilocybine) is a psychedelic Indole of the Tryptamine family found in Psilocybin Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts Minute amounts have been reported to stop cluster and migraine headaches. Cluster headache is a neurological disease that involves as its most prominent feature an immense degree of pain Migraine is a neurological Syndrome characterized by altered bodily experiences painful headaches and nausea [2]

Other uses

Mushrooms can be used for dyeing wool and other natural fibers. Dyeing is the process of imparting Colours to a textile material in loose fibre Yarn, Cloth or garment form by treatment with a Dye. Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species The chromophores of mushrooms are organic compounds and produce strong and vivid colors, and all colors of the spectrum can be achieved with mushroom dyes. A chromophore is part (or moiety) of a Molecule responsible for its Color. Before the invention of synthetic dyes mushrooms were the primary source of textile dyes. A dye can generally be described as a Colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied This technique has survived in Finland, and many Middle Ages re-enactors have revived the skill. "Reenactment" redirects here For the 1968 Romanian film see The Reenactment. Some fungi, types of polypores loosely called mushrooms, have been used as fire starters (known as tinder fungi). Polypores are a group of tough leathery poroid Mushrooms similar to Boletes, but typically lacking a distinct stalk Amadou is a spongy flammable substance prepared from bracket fungi. Ötzi the Iceman was found carrying such fungi. Ötzi the Iceman ( pronounced) Frozen Fritz, and Similaun Man are modern nicknames of a well-preserved natural Mummy of a man Mushrooms and other fungi will likely play an increasingly important role in the development of effective biological remediation and filtration technologies. A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ The US Patent and Trademark office can be searched for patents related to the latest developments in mycoremediation and mycofiltration. Mycoremediation is a form of Bioremediation, the process of using Mushrooms to return an environment (usually soil contaminated by Pollutants Mycofiltration is the process of using Mushroom Mycelium mats as biological filters

References

Further reading

• Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America: A Field-to-kitchen Guide (1992) ISBN 0-292-72080-0
• Mushrooms of Northeastern North America (1997) ISBN 0-8156-0388-6
• All That the Rain Promises, and More (1991) ISBN 0-89815-388-3
• Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms (2000) ISBN 1-58008-175-4
• Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home (1983) ISBN 0-9610798-0-0
• Mushrooms: Cultivation, Nutritional Value, Medicinal Effect, and Environmental Impact (2004) ISBN 0-8493-1043-1
• Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Will Save The World (2005) ISBN 1-58008-579-2
• Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (1986) ISBN 0-89815-169-4
• Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook: Easy Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation (2004) ISBN 0-932551-64-5
• Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World (1996) ISBN 0-89815-839-7

External links

• David Fischer's American Mushrooms
• Mushroom Expert
• MykoWeb
• Roger's Mushrooms
• Mushroom Observer (All images are made available under a Creative Commons license. Creative Commons (CC is a Non-profit organization devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share )
• North American Mycological Association
• An Aid to Mushroom Identification, Simon's Rock College
• Online Edible Wild Mushroom Field Guide
• Mushroom Council
• Myconews – Mushroom industry news
• Pictures Mushrooms

Research related

• International Society for Mushroom Science
• Pacific Northwest Fungi Online Journal
• Fungi Bioluminescence Laboratory