Mushroom – neither a plant nor an animal

Mushroom is a living thing that is neither a plant nor an animal. Mushrooms, molds, mildews, truffles, and yeasts belong to fungi. Fungi are found all over the world. They grow especially in mild, moist regions and in the tropics. Fungi can be found in the water, soil, and air. Some live on or inside plants and animals. They usually reproduce by forming tiny cells called spores. Wind, water, and insects carry spores away from the fungus that made them. If a spore lands in a damp place, it can grow into a new fungus.
Most fungi feed on dead plant and animal material. They are called saprophytes. They can ruin bread, cheese, fruits and vegetables, timber, textiles, paper, and leather. Parasites are fungi that get their food from living plants and animals.
Some fungi are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. Some mushrooms can be 25 centimeters in diameter.

Interesting facts
– Mushroom consists of about 90% water.
– There are mushrooms that can move with the speed of half a millimeter per minute.
– There are predacious fungi that prey on amoebas, worms and springtails, nematodes.
– Amount of poison which is contained in one pale toadstool mushroom is enough to poison four people. Emperor Claudius was poisoned by his wife Agrippina, who cooked soup with a pale toadstool.
– Some fungi live in sulfuric acid.
– Ants and termites grown mushrooms.
– Fungi are used to treat people, for example penicillin.
– The truffle is one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world.
– Mushrooms existed 400 million years ago, long before the dinosaurs. They are among the oldest inhabitants of the planet, along with ferns.
– Phallus impudicus entered the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest growing mushroom – every 2 minutes it grows a centimeter!
– Many mushrooms contain substances that cause a state of euphoria and hallucinations.
– Mushroom is a symbol of happiness.

Mushroom – neither a plant nor an animal

Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor

Sparassis crispa

Sarcoscypha coccinea, scarlet elf cup

Rhodotus palmatus

Polyporus umbellatus

Phallus indusiatus, bamboo fungus

Pale toadstool

Mycena

Three bogatyrs

Wonderful mushroom

Frog on the mushroom

Snail on the mushroom

Amazing mushroom

Hydnellum peckii

Hericium erinaceus

Hericium coralloides

Gyromitra esculenta

Cortinarius archeri

Clavaria zollingeri, violet coral

Clathrus ruber

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric

Clathrus archeri, octopus stinkhorn

Amanita pyramidifera

Here are the most amazing mushrooms by photographer Steve Axford. He travels around the world in search of unusual plants. Most of all he is interested in the world of mushrooms. Take a look at these photos and you’ll see variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Visit his site steveaxford.smugmug.com to find more wonderful pictures.