Importance of Mushrooms and Its Types

Mushrooms are cultivated in almost every part of the world including China, United States, and Netherlands who are also the top three mushroom producing countries. It is neither a fruit nor a vegetable but a fungi. Mushroom can be defined as a spore bearing fungus. It grows above the ground on soil or on its food source. This food source can be stem of a tree, a wooden log or the decaying part of an animal.

Mushroom generally has a stem, a cap and gills underneath the cap. These gills contain microscopic spores which help the fungus to spread even more on its source.

People in various parts of the world are indulged in mushroom cultures. They are found in various colors and sizes. Some are edible, some are used to make medicines, some are poisonous and a handful of them are deadly.

Mushrooms are also used for dyeing wool and other natural fibers. Before the invention of modern dyes, color of mushrooms was utilized to dye the fabric in textile industry. They were used by the textile industry on a large scale as their chromophores possess strong and vivid colors. Some mushrooms are also used as fire starters at some place.

Mushrooms have found an important place in medical field especially in China. Some mushrooms are used for treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Some possess antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, anti inflammatory and antidiabetic properties.

Although mushroom is not vegetable but it is known as the meat of the vegetable world. They are used in many cuisines in China, Korea and Japan. Mushrooms are considered as a good source for essential minerals, selenium, copper, phosphorous and potassium. The edible mushrooms do not possess Vitamin C and sodium and are low in fat, carbohydrates and calorie content.

Mushrooms can be divided into two main classes, Basidiomycotina and Ascomycotina.

Basidiomycetes produce their spores on cells called Basidia while Ascomycetes produce their spores inside cells called Ascus.

There is a special type of mushroom in the division Basidiomycata known as magic mushroom or Psilocybe Cubensis. It contains psilocybin and psilocin compounds. The psilocybin compound posses the ability to help people overcome the psychological disorder. That’s why Psilocybe Cubensis is also known as Magic Mushroom. It also called as shroom, golden top, golden cap etc. It can stop cluster and migraine headaches. It holds spiritual importance to some people and is highly successful in curing addiction. Many alcohol and cigarette addicts have been cured with Psilocybin mushrooms.

Due to its golden cap it is given names like golden cap and tops. It is quite easy to cultivate and has a wide distribution network throughout the world. Its cap is either convex or flat in shape. Psilocybe spores are dark purple brown in color.

Instead of seeds, the magic mushroom is cultivates through Psilocybe Cubensis Spores. Although many countries cultivate the magic mushroom but in some parts of the world, possession of these mushrooms is marked illegal due to its psychoactive compounds.

Author Bio: The writer is an expert in the field of Psilocybe Cubensis with focus on Buy Mushroom Spores.

Different to plants that develop from seeds, mushrooms engender by spreading spores that form into new parasitic development from which new mushrooms will grow eventually.