Little hats, big secrets

Mushrooms are not plants. They belong to the kingdom of fungi, an indispensable group of organisms that keep nature clean and in balance. The mushroom itself is merely the fruiting body—the visible tip of an immense network of threads underground: the mycelium.

Scientists estimate that there are between 2.2 and 3.8 million species of mushrooms worldwide. So far, however, only about 150,000 species have been officially described and named.

 

 

The squid mushroom (Clathrus archeri), also known as devil’s fingers, is perhaps one of the most otherworldly-looking mushrooms. This species is native to Australia and Tasmania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finger-shaped vibrating fungus (Xylaria polymorpha) looks remarkably like black, dried-up fingers sticking out of the ground. It is also known as Dead Man’s Fingers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The so-called bioluminescent mushrooms (Mycena chlorophos) glow softly in the dark. They can be found in the tropical forests of Japan, Brazil, and the U.S.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scarlet fairy mushroom (Sarcoscypha austriaca) is rare and has scarlet-red caps on the inside. It grows in the woods in early spring, on fallen tree branches among decaying leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is red with white spots. It is world-famous, poisonous, and magical-looking. In some Siberian cultures, it was used ritually by shamans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The catharel (Camarophyllus catenulatus) is a rare, waxy mushroom with a slightly glossy cap and whitish gills, found in nutrient-poor grasslands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ochre-yellow grainy cap (Cystoderma amianthinum) is a small, delicate mushroom with a yellow, grainy cap and a fine ring around the stem, which often grows on humus-rich forest floors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) is a mushroom with a tall stem and a large cap. It can be found in grasslands and open forests.

 

 

 

 

 

What kind of mushroom have you ever spotted?
Love, Daphne