Introduction to the Fascinating World of Mushrooms
Fungi play a crucial role in our ecosystems, helping to break down organic matter and recycle essential nutrients. They are also omnipresent in our food and our culture.
However, specialist jargon can sometimes make this area difficult to access. That's why we created this glossary to help you better understand the most common terms in the world of mushrooms.
Glossary of Key Terms
Device used to sterilize substrates in myciculture, using pressurized steam to eliminate all microorganisms.
Mushroom mycelium, made up of a network of small white filaments. It is used as seed, based on mycelium on grains or sawdust.
The sporophore, or fruiting body, is the visible part of mushrooms, often called "mushroom" in common parlance.
Term designating both the kingdom of Fungi and, in common language, the fruiting of the mycelium, visible in the form of a stem and a cap.
Group of mycelial cells from the same origin, which fuse to form a single body when they meet.
Asexual reproduction of mycelium, similar to plant cuttings, allowing the reproduction of a mushroom with the same genetic characteristics.
Reproductive part of the fungus, corresponding to the sporophore.
Kingdom of fungi, distinct from plants and animals, including yeasts, molds, and higher fungi.
Microscopic filaments which constitute the mycelium of the mushroom.
Organisms that obtain their organic matter by feeding on other organisms. Fungi are heterotrophic.
Stage where the mycelium colonizes the substrate, taking from a few weeks to several months depending on the species of mushroom.
Process of seeding a substrate with mycelium, generally after pasteurization of the substrate.
Laminar flow hood used to create a sterile environment during inoculation or mycelium preparation.
Synonymous with inoculation, term used to designate the seeding of a substrate with mycelium.
Symbiosis between at least one fungus, one algae and one bacterial community. Lichens are present in often hostile environments.
Organic compound found in wood, broken down by certain saprophytic fungi during the substrate decomposition process.
Fungi visible to the naked eye, as opposed to micromycetes which are only visible under a microscope.
Microorganism invisible to the naked eye, including bacteria, fungi, and certain algae. The majority of the living world is microbial.
Vegetative apparatus of the fungus, made up of filaments called hyphae, often barely visible because it is located under the soil or inside the substrate.
Cultivation of mushrooms. The person who takes care of this culture is called the myciculturist or the mushroom grower.
Symbiotic association between a plant and a fungus, where the mycelium of the fungus surrounds or penetrates the roots of the plant, increasing its surface area for absorption.
Consumption of mushrooms, whether wild or cultivated. Mycophagy has been practiced for millennia in many cultures.
Family of fungi that live at the expense of other living organisms, with a negative effect on the host.
Thermal process to eliminate some of the microorganisms in a medium, used to prolong the preservation of food or prepare a substrate for growing mushrooms.
Fungal wood disease caused by wood-eating fungi that degrade lignin, making the wood friable and whitish.
Wood rot caused by fungi that specialize in breaking down cellulose, giving the wood a brown color.
Family of fungi that decompose dead matter, such as agarics, oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms, mainly breaking down lignin and cellulose.
English name for “mushroom spawn” or “seeding mycelium”.
Microscopic dust which constitutes the organ of propagation of fungi, produced by the sexual reproduction of fungi.
Reproductive system of so-called higher fungi, commonly called "mushroom" in popular language.
Process aimed at eliminating all micro-organisms present in an environment using heat under pressure, often used for the preparation of mushroom spawn.
The foot or stem of the mushroom, which supports the cap. The stipe can vary in size and shape depending on the species.
Material on which the mycelium develops, nourishes and spreads, such as manure compost for mushrooms or straw for lignicultural mushrooms.
Family of fungi that live in a symbiotic relationship with plants, forming mycorrhizae at the roots, such as truffles and amanitas.
The Varieties
Reishi, shiny ganoderma.
Hydne Hedgehog, Lion’s Mane, Lion’s Mane.
Shiitakes, Lentin chêne.
Nameko, Pholiota microspora.
Yellow oyster mushrooms, golden oyster mushrooms.
Eryngii, oyster mushrooms, Argouane, Berigoule, Girboulot, False cep.
White, gray, blue oyster mushrooms, oyster-shaped oyster mushrooms, Pearl Oyster.
Pulmonary oyster mushrooms, Italian oyster.
Pink oyster mushrooms, salmon oyster mushrooms.
Rough Ringed Stropharia, Wine-Red Stropharia, Straw Porcini, Saketsubatake.
