Activity 4: Mushroom Detectives

 

The aim of this activity is to show that fungal fruit bodies come in many different shapes, sizes and colours yet they all do the same job.  They all make, protect and disperse the fungal spores (which are similar to the seeds of flowering plants).

Teachers notes:

Scientists who study fungi are called Mycologists. 

Most of the time fungi are not visible.  They form networks of filaments called mycelium which grow underground or beneath logs where they consume dead plants and animals to make energy for growth. 

We see fungi when they produce their fruit (or as mycologists call them: fruit bodies).  Fungi usually have a ‘common name’ for example ‘Frosty Funnel’ which tells us a little about how the fungus looks or what it does; and a scientific name which is usually written in Latin and in italics and is used as a worldwide identifier for the fungus – so ‘Frosty Funnel’ is also known worldwide as ‘Clitocybe phyllophila’ and ‘The Fly Agaric’ is also known as ‘Amanita muscaria’.

The fruit bodies of fungi come in many different shapes and sizes.  See worksheet 2 for more information.

 

Click here to match the mushroom in an interactive game. 

 

It is important to explain that all of the fungi that are being examined in this activity can be eaten (in other words they are edible mushrooms).  If you are collecting mushrooms from the wild you should encourage everyone to follow the ‘Wild Mushroom Pickers’ code of conduct and should make sure that the fungi were safe to pick.  There are lots of books to help - But….. it is best not to touch or pick mushrooms unless you are with someone who is an expert in fungal identification and who will know what they are! 

Remember:  always wash your hands when you have been handling mushrooms - it’s a good habit to get into!

 

This is what you will need (for a class of 20):

 

20 x Magnifying glasses (these will do if microscopes are not available).

Paper, pencils, rubbers, colouring pencils

How the mushroom got its spots booklet (available free of charge apart from postage from the BMS)

 

If your school has access to simple stereo microscopes - For example: DM2 Stereomicroscopes supplied by Brunel Microscopes or similar, then these could be used.

 

Obtain a range of different fungi from the supermarket or mushroom supplier.  Most supermarkets stock for example:

 

Portabello mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms

Enoki

Brown and White Beech mushrooms

Some supermarkets and market stalls may also supply Chantarelle (which has ridges rather than gills) and Wood Hedgehog mushroom (which have spikes rather than gills on the underside of its cap).

This is what to do:

The session could begin by looking at the structure of a mushroom

If you do not have copies of 'How the mushroom got its spots' booklet then print out worksheet 3.

Label the diagram of the structure of a mushroom from worksheet 3.

Look at the different types of mushrooms that you have available. 

Look at the size of the cap and take measurements if you wish. Using the magnifying glasses (and/or microscopes if available) look at the detailed pattern of the gills (pores or spikes) underneath the cap.  This is where the spores are made. 

Draw the different shaped mushroom fruit bodies and colour them in. Draw the different gill patterns you see.

 

Making a spore print

Can we see mushroom spores with the naked eye?

Fungal spores are microscopic which means that they are not visible to the naked eye.  We have to use high powered microscopes to view them.  However, we can see the pattern they make on paper when they are released from the gills of the mushroom by making a spore print. 

Here's what to do:

Take a mature mushroom (one where the gills (pores or spikes) are clearly visible) and invert it so that it is cap down on a piece of card.

Cover the mushroom cap with a plastic bowl.  This stops air currents from spoiling the print.

Leave for at least 2 hours or overnight if you wish.

Remove the plastic bowl and lift the cap away from the card.

The print will be revealed!

Spray the prints carefully with art fixative if you wish to preserve them to display.

 

More detailed information can be found on worksheet 10 of 'How the mushroom got its spots'.