Mushrooms

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• Examples of mushrooms

Name "mushrooms”Is a generic term for a whole kingdom of beings eukaryotes (possessors of nucleated cells) known as funghi, and that usually includes mushrooms, molds and yeasts (although more specifically the former), since they differ from plants and animals in their biochemical structure and in their ways of feeding and reproduction.

For example, the members of the kingdom funghi They have cells endowed with a biochemical wall like plants, but instead of being made of cellulose, they are made of chitin, the same compound found in the shell of insects. At the same time, they reproduce sexually and asexual, through the production of spores; are immobile structures throughout their existence and feed through the fermentation of organic matter in very numerous and various habitats possible.

The biodiversity of fungi is very wide, there are edible and poisonous fungi, parasitic and wild fungi, usable by man, coprophiles and pyrophiles, but in general they require specific conditions of humidity and nutrients to develop. That is why it is possible to find them from deserts, saline areas, exposed to ionizing radiation or on the floor of tropical humid forests.

The branch of science that is dedicated to the study of these types of beings is known as Mycology.

Examples of mushrooms

1. The common mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Food mushrooms par excellence, native to Europe and North America, are part of many gastronomic aspects and are widely cultivated worldwide. It is usually white, with a short hypha and a round hat.
2. Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum). Parasitic fungus of the bark of many types of tree, distributed in tropical and temperate areas, is one of the oldest known mushrooms. They are usually of variable colors, with a kidney-shaped hat covered in a lacquer layer.
3. Turkey tail mushroom (Versicolor trametes). Extremely common and varied in its pigmentation, this turkey tail-shaped mushroom is considered medicinal by ancient Chinese tradition, even used as an immuno-aid against cancer. It usually grows on wet tree bark, rocks, or slopes.
4. Green apricot (Amanita phalloides). The dreaded death fungus, deadly cap or green hemlock, is one of the most poisonous mushroom specimens known. Being very similar to certain edible mushrooms, it is usually the cause of lethal poisoning, with rapid effects on the liver and kidneys. They have a long, slim body, with a broad, yellowish hat..
5. Check them (Lactarius deliciosus). Also called níscalos or robellones, they are very common edible mushrooms in Spain, typical of pine groves and mixed forests. They emerge in autumn, with a brown and white body with a hollowed and short foot, which, when broken, secretes an orange latex. They are cooked in stews and often as an accompaniment to meats.
6. The "Indian Bread" (Cyttaria harioti). Llao llao or Indian bread, is a parasitic fungus of certain Pampean Patagonian trees (the ñire and the coihue in particular), of the Chilean and Argentine South American region. They are edible. Its appearance obstructs the savian ducts of the tree and the tree often generates knots to bypass the blockage, which is a recognizable sign of its presence.
7. The huitlacoche or cuitlacoche (Ustilago maydis). Edible fungus, parasite of corn, which attacks young ears and takes on the appearance of a greyish gall that darkens as it matures. In Mexico, its consumption is considered an ancient Aztec heritage, and many dishes are made from it.
8. Mongui mushrooms (Psilocybe semilanceata). Measuring between 2 and 5 cm, with a white and brown flared hat as it matures, this European hallucinogenic mushroom is widely used as a psychotropic. Its effect is contrary to that of serotonin, generating an activation and extroversion that can often lead to paranoia and mania.
9. The false apricot (Amanita muscaria). A fairly common fungus, it has a characteristic red cap that can be mistaken for a oronja and that, in its early stages, appears covered with whitish hairs. It is a known hallucinogen and neurotoxic, which poisons the insects that land on its hat and thus maintains its source of organic matter.
10. Penicillin fungus (Penicillium chrysogenum). Thanks to the accidental appearance of this fungus in the experimental results of Alexander Fleming, we have discovered the main antibiotic in history, penicillin. There is a whole family of fungi capable of secreting this medicinal substance.
11. Judas Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae). Edible fungus that grows on the bark and dead branches of trees and has a characteristic pink color, which is why it is associated with a human pinna. It is edible and has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.
12. Shitake(Lentinula edodes). Edible mushroom very common in Asian cuisine, it is also known as "black forest mushroom" or "flower mushroom" from their respective local names. It is supposed to come from China, where it is traditionally grown on wood or synthetic crops. Its largest world producer is Japan.
13. Black truffles (Tuber melanosporum). Another variant of edible mushroom, highly valued for its aroma and flavor. It occurs on the ground in European winters and has a blackish appearance, with a warty surface. It is a typical gastronomic addition to foie gras and different sauces.
14. Human candida (Candida albicans). This fungus is usually found in the mouth, intestine and vagina, and is related to the digestion of sugars via fermentation. But it can often become pathogenic and generate a candidiasis, a very common and perfectly curable sexually transmitted disease.
15. Athlete's foot (Epidermophyton floccosum). This fungus is one of the possible causes of the fungal affection of human skin (ringworm), especially when it is, as in the case of athletes, subjected to conditions of excessive heat and humidity. They form yellowish brown or greenish black colonies.
16. Velvet mushroom(Flammulina velutipes). Edible mushroom with long stems and varied colors, highly appreciated in Japanese gastronomy for its crunchy texture and its abundance in the bark of trees.
17. Bioluminescent fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis). Typical of Australia and Tasmania, as well as India, this mushroom possesses a white irregular nest shape, which sheds some light in the dark. They are a very striking variant although toxic and inedible.
18. Scarlet copic (Sarcoscypha coccinea). Worldwide present fungus, which grows on sticks and decaying branches on the floor of humid forests, with a typical round and pink shape. Its medicinal applications are known, although its edibility is still under debate by specialized authors.
19. Aflatoxin fungus (Aspergillus flavus). Frequent in corn and peanuts, as well as long wet carpets, this fungus is associated with lung diseases and is highly allergenic, capable of secreting lethal mycotoxins.
20. Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum). Highly toxic, this mold commonly appears in abandoned buildings where there is abundant organic matter, high humidity and little light, as well as little air exchange. Inhalation of its spores produces poisoning and a chronic cough, depending on the length and intensity of exposure to its mycotoxins.

• Follow with: Examples from the Fungi Kingdom