The Fantastic World of Mushrooms

The more I know about mushrooms, the more I’m amazed! There’s a whole other world under our feet.

The Dramatic Ones

Mushrooms are everywhere, from large dryads like signposts on trees to almost microscopic, colorful specks. The dramatic gills and unnatural colors are the first to draw you in.

Once you start to pay attention to those, you’ll see more and more. Then there’s no turning back. You’re hooked. The more you look, the more you see.

But mushrooms are so much more than forest decor. They are the communication network of the forest. The part that we’re drawn to is the fruiting body (i.e., the flower) of the fungus, which appears briefly to spread spores like a flower spreads seeds. 

Astonishing Variety

The rest of the fungi is underground. It’s no wonder that we are just beginning to understand these peculiar organisms, which possess characteristics of both plants and animals, yet are neither one.

A Communication Network

Below the surface, expansive mycelial networks connect fungi, roots, trees, and other organisms across miles. Mycelia occasionally reveal themselves as delicate, white, hair-like mesh on decaying wood.

These mycelial networks seem to work like neurons, the cells that relay messages throughout animal bodies. Every square inch of forest soil is believed to contain three to four miles of mycelia. When it’s time to reproduce, the same structure that creates the mycelium coils together like a woven basket to form the mushroom we see. The film Fantastic Fungi features stunning time-lapse photography of this.

While we think of fungi as decomposers, that is not their most common role. Most fungi work in cooperation with plants to supply them with minerals and nutrients. In exchange, the fungi receive sugars from the plant. The fungi in this symbiotic relationship with plant roots are called mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae have been identified on 92% of all known plant species! Sometimes, the relationship is even more profound. For example, Lady’s Slipper orchids cannot survive if removed from their fungal networks (they will not survive transplanting), and their seeds require these mycorrhizae to germinate.

There’s so much more to be amazed by. The forest is completely connected. Next time you’re out in nature, look closely.If you’re interested in purchasing or licensing any images you see here, please email me at SNewenham at exploringnaturephotos.com, and I’ll make it happen.

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