Parts of a mushroom
Knowing the different parts of a mushroom is key to correctly identify them and distinguish between edible and poisonous species. It will also allow you to enjoy the picking experience more and better understand the role of mushrooms in the ecosystem. If you are not sure about the identification of a mushroom, you should never collect it.
The parts of a mushroom are:
- Pileus or cap: upper part of the mushroom or carpophore. Protects the hymenophore.
- Cuticle: Upper layer of the cap. The first thing we observe when identifying them, sometimes we can see scales, coming from the universal veil.
- Hymenophore: fertile part of the fungus, where spores are produced. It may be composed of lamellae, tubes, stingers or folds.
- Ring: In some mushrooms it does not appear, it is the rest of the partial veil.
- Foot or stipe: structure that supports the cap and separates the hymenophore from the soil, to favor the dispersion of the spores.
- Volva: Present in some fungi, coming from the universal veil.
- Mycelium: network of invisible filaments underground, vital for the nutrition and survival of mushrooms.