A species of fungus that can feed on plastic has been discovered in the Amazon. Pestalotiopsis microspora is the first living organism that can survive on a diet of plastic alone, and what's more, it can do so under anaerobic conditions - similar to those at the bottom of a landfill. 1)
Entoloma hochstetteri is a species of fungus distinguished by the blue color of fruiting bodies, only the blades of this individual have a slightly reddish tint due to spores. 2)
A drawing of Entoloma hochstetteri can be found on the back of a New Zealand 50 dollar bill from 2002. 3)
In 1992, James Anderson discovered a single fungus in the genus Armillaria, weighing an estimated 22,000 pounds and spread over a remarkable 15-acre area. The organism had been growing for about 1,500 years, more than a millennium before the land on which it grew became the state of Michigan. 4)
The bleeding mushroom, or Hydnellum peckii, gets its name from the fact that it secretes blood-red watery droplets on its white cap. 5)
There is a group of predatory fungi in the world that feed on small invertebrate animals. 6)
A fairy ring is a characteristic circular pattern formed among grasses and forest litter. The ring is formed by fruiting bodies of mushrooms, which, depending on the mechanism of formation, may have a shape similar to a circle or its fragments. 7)
The biggest danger when picking mushrooms is that some species have edible and poisonous counterparts. 8)
Mushroom picking has been a part of Polish and Lithuanian tradition for ages just like other Slavic countries. Those countries are considered mycophillic, whereas countries such as Great Britain, the USA, Belgium, and Denmark are considered to be mycophobic. 9)
The green toadstool contains enough venom to poison 4 people. The toxins it contains cause irreversible damage to the liver and other organs. It is also very important to know that toxins are not destroyed by cooking, marinating, or drying. 10)
The absolute record holder in terms of price is white truffles. The most ever was paid for a 3.3 lb truffle, and it was 330 thousand dollars. 11)
Fungi cleanse the air and soil of toxins and radioactive elements and kill bacteria and parasites. 12)
Currently, 120,000 fungi have been described, but experts believe that there are over 5 million fungi in the world. Most of them are microscopic fungi, which play a huge role in medicine and agriculture. It is to them that we owe antibiotics. 13)
Depending on the species and substrate, mushrooms can be a good source of potassium, iron, zinc, or phosphorus. They also provide folic acid, B vitamins, and vitamin D, the so-called sunshine vitamin. 14)
Some species of mold are used to make wine and cheese. Yeast is used, for example, in baking. 15)