Many plants in the order Ericales (which includes blueberries, rhododendrons, heaths, heathers, tea, and Brazil nut) form unique mycorrhizae. These plants are frequently found living in harsh conditions, like acidic or highly acidic soil. Their aptitude for these types of habitats is likely due to their unique mycorrhizae. There are actually three types of mycorrhizae formed by these plants: ericoid, arbutoid, and monotropoid.
Orchid seeds do not contain sugars, so the seeds take sugars from a mycorrhizal fungus. All orchids are parasitic on fungi while they are seedlings. Because of this unusual relationship, orchids form unique mycorrhizae that differ from both ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizae.
Ectomycorrhizae are mutualistic relationships formed between trees and fungal species in both the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The main difference between ectomycorrhizae (abbreviated EM or ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizae (discussed last week) is that in ectomycorrhizae the fungus never penetrates the host plant’s cells.
Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are the most abundant type of mycorrhizae on earth. In AM, fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota (FFF#015) penetrate plant root cells and grow arbuscules (tree-shaped structures designed to facilitate nutrient exchange).
Generally speaking, mycorrhizae are mutualistic interactions between the hyphae of a fungus and the roots of a plant. In most cases, the plant gives the fungus sugars in exchange for hard-to-get nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. Although there are exceptions to these rules, fungi that are described as “mycorrhizal” usually in the manner described above.
Note: This is an archived post. The current version of this post is available here. This edible mushroom can be found in specialty markets under the names “Enokitake” and “” It can also be found in the wild in temperate areas across the Northern Hemisphere, but the wild mushrooms look nothing like the cultivated versions. Flammulina velutipes has many common names, including: Velvet Foot, Enokitake, Enoki, Winter Mushroom, Velvet Stem, Velvet Shank, Golden Needle Mushroom, and others. I am using the name Velvet Foot because it is among the most commonly used names and it sounds the most poetic. According to Wikipedia, Enoki is the Japanese name for the Chinese Hackberry Tree, a tree in the hemp family on which F. velutipes is often found. Thus, “Enokitake” means “Chinese Hackberry Tree Mushroom.” Wikipedia also says that the Chinese names for this mushroom translate to Golden Needle Mushroom or Golden Mushroom. ...
Note: this is an archived post. You can find the current version here. Ganoderma applanatum is unique among fungi in that it is primarily used by humans as an artistic medium. This large, woody bracket fungus features a flat, rapidly-staining, white pore surface, which readily becomes a natural canvas for an artist. By lightly scratching the pore surface, an artist can produce beautiful sketches without using a pen, pencil, or paint. The pores stop growing once the mushroom is removed from its substrate, so the stains remain on the pore surface. Conks produced by applanatum are woody and therefore decay very slowly. As a result, artwork produced on the Artist’s Conk can last for many years when kept indoors.
Because of their resilient nature, lichens are able to grow in almost any climate. Their primary environmental role is initial soil creation, but they also provide food and shelter for animals and are used in a variety of ways by humans. In case you missed last week, here is a recap. Lichens are composite organisms that contain a few different species living in a mutualistic relationship. All lichens contain a mycobiont (a fungus) and a photobiont (a green alga and/or a cyanobacerium). The mycobiont provides structure while the photobiont provides sugar through photosynthesis.
Lichens are composite organisms made up of two mutualistic, unrelated species: a photosynthetic organism and a fungus. I find that most people don’t really understand what lichens are, and that’s not surprising, considering the definition above. OK, so we’re all familiar with lichens: the green/grey/orange/brown crusts that form on sidewalks/trees/rocks/etc. But what, exactly, are they? Most people would probably classify them as plants or, more specifically, as mosses. This would seem reasonable, as they are often found growing alongside mosses and in other similar habitats. However, this is not the case at all. Lichens are actually composed of two or more separate species growing together as one organism. This unusual type of organism is known as a “composite organism.” Lichens always include one fungal partner (the mycobiont) and at least one photosynthetic partner (the photopiont). The photobiont can be a green alga (kingdom Plantae) or a cyanobacterium (a.k.a. blue-green alga,...
Note: This is an archived post. You can find the current version of this post here. Legend has it that witches use this fungus to cast hexes. When this fungus appears on your gate or door, you have certainly been the victim of a witch’s evil spell. The only way to counter the hex is to pierce the fungus with straight pins, allowing the inner juices to drain and thus killing the fungus and the spell. Unfortunately for those who believe this superstition, this method probably doesn’t work too well for two reasons. First, the mushroom is specifically designed to survive repeated dehydration and rehydration. Second, the main body of the fungus is still living inside the wood. Unless you replace the wood you will probably find the mushroom repeatedly fruiting from the same place.
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