Nigel's Gardening Hints and Tips
Created | Updated Jul 13, 2009
There's a Fungus On My Plate!
Many of us enjoy the odd mushroom or two in our meals, but do we know
exactly what type we are eating or where they have come from? Sit back
and relax while I tell you some interesting, and possibly scary facts
about mushrooms.
When I was training to become a qualified horticulturist, I always
thought that the topic of mushrooms was boring so I never learnt any
of the important fungi facts. It was only when I was helping to shovel
a load of wood-chip bark from the wildlife meadow to the woodland that
all of this suddenly changed. I was working down in the woodland area
of the garden centre at the time and, as I tipped the wheelbarrow of
bark around the trees, I suddenly noticed this bright white, biggish
mushroom glaring out of the ground. This gave me a 'taster' for
finding out more.
Mushrooms are classed as 'fungi', and are not just used in cooking.
Varieties are used in penicillin, some detergents, and even the yeast
in bread! (to name but a few). These are a different fungi to the
'mushroom' type that we know of, but they all provide an important
role in our lives.
Fungi come in many different shapes and sizes, the main body of any
type of fungus is called the 'Fruitbody'. This produces spores,
anything up to a billion at a time, which is dispersed by various
different methods. I don't have the space to explain it all in detail
here, of course, but this clip will give you
plenty of information.
Now I am going to talk about sex! Don't get too excited, it is still
regarding fungi! When these spores are dispersed to other fungi, they
produce mycelia (fine thin filaments) to make them grow. Some types of
fungi can produce these themselves, which means they do not require
any mycelia.
After the fungi have the required mycelia, it requires important water
and nutrients in order for them to survive. These can be obtained from
the material they are growing in. This could be dead, decaying matter,
or even from a living thing such as a tree or buried animal. For
example, there could be a dead animal buried - this will produce
certain enzymes (proteins within the material) which enable the fungi
to grow, before waiting for the boost of mycelia from other fungi,
or from themselves if they can produce it.
Once they have the mycelia, they can then feed on the nutrients and water
which is underneath the fungi. According to what enzymes are in the
material, this determines what type of fungi is produced.
BBC Worldwide have an interesting clip by David Attenborough about fungi.
A few months ago, I opened up my plastic greenhouse down the
allotment, and was met with a nice surprise. Just by the door were
some unusual-looking mushrooms, which I am still determined to find
the exact name for. The only thing was that they produced a fine black
powder from underneath, which blew onto everything, causing a sooty
mess. I can remember before laying down the floor, I had a layer of
bark chippings which eventually were buried in the ground. These are
the enzymes which are feeding the fungi, and enabling them to grow and
spread. I had no choice but to dig them up, but every so often I still
see the odd one growing which I photograph on the basis of identifying
it. I must get round to it, and let you know.
When we buy our mushrooms from a supermarket, or local store, we know
that they are safe to eat and enjoy. However, if you ever decide to
pick your own, then please be very careful as some of the edible ones
can look very similar to the ones that are poisonous.
For an in-depth guide of identifying mushrooms, please see Roger's Mushrooms, which
gives a host of interesting information.
In the past, I have been brought Mushroom Kits for my birthday, or
special occasion, which are interesting and very tasty! They are
available from most garden centres.
Happy Mushrooming!!
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