This is considered a type of toxicity, but they are not known to have any long-term effects. However, possession of many of these species is illegal in many countries. Medicinal mushrooms Some species of mushrooms have been used as medicine for thousands of years, particularly in China and Japan [3]. Some of the immune- enhancing and anti-cancer effects of traditional species such as Ganoderma lucidum and Trametes versicolor have been demonstrated scientifically [4]. Arora D. Volk TJ. The Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 15 2.
Their DNA is encapsulated in a central structure called the nucleus some cells can have multiple nuclei, according to "Van Nostrand". They also have specialized cellular machinery called organelles that execute various dedicated functions such as energy production and protein transport. Fungal cells are encased in two layers: an inner cell membrane and an outer cell wall. These two layers have more in common with animals than plants. Like animal cell membranes, those of fungi are made of proteins and fatty molecules called lipids.
In addition, animal cell membranes contain varying amounts of cholesterol. Similarly fungal membranes contain a unique steroid called ergosterol , according to Volk. Plant cell walls are made of cellulose, whereas fungal cell walls have chitin, a distinctly non-plant substance.
In fact, the exoskeletons, or the outer hard shell of various arthropods insects, and crustaceans like crabs and lobsters are made of chitin. Structure: Fungi can be made up of a single cell as in the case of yeasts, or multiple cells, as in the case of mushrooms.
The bodies of multicellular fungi are made of cells that band together in rows that resemble the branches of trees. Each individual branched structure is called a hypha plural: hyphae. Most often, the individual cells in hyphae sit right next to each other in a continuous line also known as coenocytic hyphae but they can sometimes be separated into compartments by a cross wall septate hyphae. Several hyphae mesh together to form the mycelium, which constitutes the fungal body, according to "Van Nostrand.
Nutrition: As mentioned earlier, since fungi cannot conduct photosynthesis, they need to absorb nutrients from various organic substances around them. This makes them heterotrophs , which literally translates to "other feeding," according to Volk. Animals are heterotrophs as well, and need to seek out their food.
But in their case, digestion takes place inside the body. These enzymes are the primary reason why fungi are able to thrive in diverse environments from woody surfaces to insides of our body.
As a result of exoenzyme activity, large food molecules are broken down into smaller ones, which are brought into the hyphae. Cellular respiration then takes place inside fungal cells. It is somewhat like the fruit of a plant, except that the "seeds" it produces are in fact millions of microscopic spores that form in the gills or pores underneath the mushroom's cap.
The spores blow away into the wind, or are spread by other means, such as animal feeding. If they land on a suitable substrate such as wood or soil spores will germinate to form a network of microscopic rooting threads mycelium which penetrate into their new food source. Unlike the mushroom, which pops up then passes away quickly, the mycelium persists, often for many years, extracting nutrients and sending up its annual crop of mushrooms.
Usually, the complete decay of dead wood involves many kinds of fungi. Wood decay fungi are usually broken into three groups:. Despite the damage that fungi can do to homes and foods, I stand by my original statement. Fungi, overall, are good for us, and we should be grateful for them! Some of these are beautiful, and others are a little sinister. A number of these fungi are edible, but you should never eat any fungi from the wild without expert advice.
Many people die each year as a result of eating poisonous species. The edible indigo milk cap is from the Russula family. It is found in all kinds of woodlands in the US and Europe and is a popular food in China and Mexico.
Hope you find time to go hunting for them one day with a guide. Fungi 'holidays' or 'forages' with experts are really popular in the UK. I'm glad people do the same thing in the US. Great stuff.
We went on a failed morel mushroom hunt a few months ago with a mycologist. We're going to try again in December, when, hopefully, the moist weather will have allowed a bunch of fungal delicacies to grow. I wouldn't dare trying to eat something without having an experienced mushroom hunter or mycologist examine it first, either. JT- I wouldn't dare try to describe which fungi are safe and which are not. Even if you have a really good reference book it is difficult to differentiate between some very enjoyable species and some very dangerous species.
If you want to learn about which fungi are safe, I reckon you need an expert. That means a course. Or finding someone who has been collecting mushrooms for a good while. I would have been really interested in knowing which mushrooms were edible and which ones are not. One advantage the French and Italians have over the British and Americans is that they really know their fungi.
Every family in the countryside has special places to gather fungi that only they know about. They even pass these secret locations from generation to generation. I love all kind of mushrooms, chanterelle and truffles are my favorites.
In Europe gathering wild mushrooms in the forest is a popular activity, too bad it is not that popular in the USA. Great hub!
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