Status Updates From Close Encounters of the Fun...

some decomposer fungi can release toxins that paralyse nematode eelworms and vacuum its nutrients (nitrogen etc) by penetrating them with its hyphae.
Psilocybin does not cause addiction (as oppose to other class a drugs it’s associated with). They open connective paths in the brain that are provide the brain with a new way of thinking- associated with ‘good trips’

the dry rot fungus eat the wood in buildings. they grow in slightly damp conditions with temp above 20 degrees. they leave brown patches and have the texture of a jellyfish with water. can penetrate concrete when they are ready to spread its spores. they break down cellulose and hemicellulose in certain wood to produce water-hence lacrymans- they use their glucose and energy to produce their own carbon structures.

the dutch elm disease on the other hand is more dire due to the clonal reproduction and minimal seed dispersal of the English elm that makes the disease more difficult to get rid of.

diebacks are caused by a species of fungi but commonly mistaken for 2 due to the different life stages of attack. it usually spreads in the teleomorph (sexual) stage by attacking the ash trees and blocking its cells responsible for nutrient transport, and stays with them in anamorphic stage. there is a cure as there are resistant ash species rising either by human intervention or naturally

The anamorph stage that are conidial and asexual, and teleomorph stage that are ascos based and is sexual. The cells in the mycelium of these are haploid and ‘mate’ with compatible mycelium. Referred to as + or - rather than male or female

The group of fungi that form black coating and grow beneath the bark are called pyromycetes. It has a lychee like rough texture as its outer layer which provides protection against uv radiation, acids and solvents.
There are also two stages (alter egos) of the fungi that are commonly mistaken for different species but are a really just different life stages

‘Ascos’ was traditionally the name for fungi with exposed parts for its spore dispersal. Such as morels (very delicious), orange peel fungus(has beta-carotene that produce pigment), hares ear fungus (if you blow on it you can see the powder of spores).
There are parasitic fungus that grow on other fungus either by highjacking it completely or use its nutrients. And parasitic fungus that grow on those

Naming fungi requires constant update with new technology that confirm the species and new discoveries that would group them in different groups
The stink horn erupts a jelly like liquid from its ‘egg’ which releases the same chemicals as in rotting meat or carcass, attracting flies that will consume the jelly and carry its spores in the hole that it’ll land in a favourable environment for germination

Truffle is fungi that develop subterranean fruit bodies. They loose less water, potato shape helps pack most no of spores in a small vol. they use animals as pollinators
ectomycorrhiza- mycelium covering the plant roots on the outside, (opposite: endomycorrhiza)
Mycelium help exchange substances in soil to plants such as iron,

hyphae can be luminous and utilized in the world war to identify allies in the dark
there's a principle in biology that states: any feature can have natural selection acting on, but why some fungi are luminous is still a mystery. it has been suggested for the function of attracting insects but other non-luminous species grow successfully in the same forest and there's no conclusive evidence of firefly attraction

Two man species of fungi- based on the structure of reproductive organs
Ascosmycetes- spores developed in enclosed asci, and ejected forcibly
Basidiomycetes- spores in sausage shaped structures called basidium formed at the centre of the gill or around the pores, wind current carries it for distribution
Prototaxites fossil appears to be resilient fungi but could it be lichen?? As it’s 6x bigger than its herbs

Toadstool- fungi you can’t eat
Mushroom- fungi you can eat
They both have gills or spores on the underside (increases surface area) to distribute spores so the area of underside is the same as area of upper side.
Fruiting body - sporocarp
Cep picking abundant in Eastern Europe as pastime? Numbers of mushrooms are decreasing in the UK. But in Italy spawns back due to the body being mycelium rather than the cap

Porcini differs from the common supermarket mushroom by the underside. Which is white with gills in ‘normal’ mushrooms and yellow with pores in porcini. It belongs to the genus boletus, and made up of four species. It has a unique taste and served in pasta in local restaurants in borga val di taro