#separator:tab #html:false #tags column:4 Is a mushroom a plant? No, it is a fungus fun-mushroom-safety What is the kingdom of mushrooms, molds and yeasts? Fungi fun-mushroom-safety Can fungi make their own food from sunlight? No, they absorb food from what they grow on fun-mushroom-safety What is the mushroom you see above ground? The fruiting body, like an apple on a tree fun-mushroom-safety What is mycelium? The web of thin threads that is the main body of a fungus fun-mushroom-safety What are spores? Tiny cells that fungi release to make new fungi fun-mushroom-safety What is the cap? The top part of a mushroom fun-mushroom-safety What are gills? Thin plates under the cap that hold spores fun-mushroom-safety What is the stipe? The stem of a mushroom fun-mushroom-safety Where do many mushrooms grow? On damp ground, rotting logs and leaves fun-mushroom-safety What is a decomposer? A living thing that breaks down dead plants and animals fun-mushroom-safety Why are fungi helpful to forests? They break down dead wood and return nutrients to the soil fun-mushroom-safety Should you ever eat a wild mushroom you find? No, unless an expert has identified it fun-mushroom-safety Can you tell if a mushroom is safe by how it looks? No, some poisonous ones look like edible ones fun-mushroom-safety What should you do if you see a wild mushroom? Look and take a photo, but don't touch it with a bare hand or taste it fun-mushroom-safety What should you do after touching wild mushrooms? Wash your hands fun-mushroom-safety Which grown-up can check mushrooms? A trained expert, such as a mycologist fun-mushroom-safety What is a mycologist? A scientist who studies fungi fun-mushroom-safety Is there a rule to tell poisonous from safe? No simple rule works; never rely on tricks fun-mushroom-safety What if a pet or small child eats a wild mushroom? Call a grown-up and poison control right away fun-mushroom-safety What is the poison control number in the US? 1-800-222-1222 fun-mushroom-safety Are all mushrooms in the grocery store safe? Store-bought ones sold for food are grown to be safe fun-mushroom-safety Button mushroom The common white mushroom sold in stores fun-mushroom-safety Portobello A large brown mushroom grown for food fun-mushroom-safety Shiitake A mushroom grown for food in Asia and elsewhere fun-mushroom-safety Oyster mushroom A soft, shell-shaped mushroom grown for food fun-mushroom-safety Truffle A rare fungus that grows underground and is very costly fun-mushroom-safety Puffball A round fungus that puffs out clouds of spores fun-mushroom-safety Fly agaric A red cap with white spots in many fairy tales; it is poisonous fun-mushroom-safety Death cap A deadly mushroom; never touch or taste wild mushrooms fun-mushroom-safety Shelf fungus A fungus that grows out of trees like a shelf fun-mushroom-safety Fairy ring A circle of mushrooms in a lawn fun-mushroom-safety Yeast A tiny fungus that makes bread rise fun-mushroom-safety Mold A fuzzy fungus that grows on old food fun-mushroom-safety Should you eat moldy food? No, throw it away fun-mushroom-safety Penicillin A medicine first found from a mold fun-mushroom-safety Athlete's foot A skin problem caused by a fungus fun-mushroom-safety Lichen A partnership between a fungus and algae fun-mushroom-safety Largest living thing by area? A honey fungus in Oregon's Blue Mountains, mostly underground fun-mushroom-safety Bioluminescent mushrooms Some mushrooms glow in the dark fun-mushroom-safety Do mushrooms need light to grow? No, many grow in the dark fun-mushroom-safety Do mushrooms have seeds? No, they have spores fun-mushroom-safety Are mushrooms animals? No, they are in a kingdom of their own fun-mushroom-safety Which is closer to animals, a mushroom or a plant? Fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants fun-mushroom-safety Why do mushrooms pop up after rain? They like moisture fun-mushroom-safety Why do some mushrooms have bright colors? Colors can be a warning, but never trust color to decide if it is safe fun-mushroom-safety Are mushrooms healthy to eat? Cooked store-bought mushrooms have vitamins and minerals fun-mushroom-safety Is it okay to pick mushrooms in a park? Better to leave them for the forest and animals fun-mushroom-safety Who eats mushrooms in nature? Squirrels, deer, snails and insects eat some kinds fun-mushroom-safety What is a field guide? A book that helps identify plants, animals or fungi fun-mushroom-safety