The term mushroom commonly refers to the fruiting body of a fungal organism. Have you ever kicked up leaves or dirt in the woods and noticed a white web like material? That is known as mycelium or the "root" system of the fungi which can run for miles underground! As previously stated mushrooms are the fruiting body or reproductive part of the fungus, similar to fruit from a tree. These mushrooms produce what are known as spores which are released and spread by the wind, if these spores land where conditions are favorable the fungus will start to grow. Fungi decompose organic material, they are an integral to life on earth because if nothing was breaking down this material the world would be convered in debris.

This site was designed to inform people about the incredible kingdom of fungi, a tasty and interesting form of life on our planet. See the links above for basic identification techniques, common edible and toxic fungi in the midwest, and other helpful sources of information related to fungi.