Fungi are a varied group of enchanting species, from the beautiful to the downright sinister. As research into these fascinating life forms deepens, it feels as though we are just scratching the surface of a boundless and mostly invisible web of symbiotic connections that are so integral to our natural world.

The autumn is when wild mushrooms come out to play. Wetter weather causes their fruiting bodies to emerge, often found in woodland, grassland, even your own front garden! 

What’s the difference between mushroom and fungi?

Let’s clear something up - while all mushrooms are fungi, not all fungi are mushrooms.

‘Fungi’ is a classification of a type of living organism, in the same way that ‘animal’ or ‘plant’ are classifications. The fungi kingdom covers a diverse range of species including yeasts, mildews, moulds and mushrooms.

A mushroom is the fruiting, reproductive body that’s visible above the ground, which only some fungi produce. In fact, it’s believed that less than 1% of all fungi produce mushrooms! Mushrooms are typically made up of a stem, a cap and gills. The gills, which are underneath the cap, are where a mushroom’s spores are – this is what they use to reproduce, in a similar way to seeds from a tree.

What role do fungi play in nature?

I find it fascinating that, until in 1969, fungi where considered to be part of the plant kingdom – genetically, they’re more closely related to animals! One of the key ways in which they differ to plants is how they get their energy. Plants are photosynthetic producers, using the sun to create their own nutrition using chlorophyll, whereas fungi are heterotrophic decomposers, meaning they digest their food externally and absorb the nutrients.

It’s this incredible ability to break things down which makes them so important for our ecosystem.

A large proportion of fungi are ‘saprophytic’, which means they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. They’re able to break down complex materials through a process called extracellular digestion, secreting enzymes to decompose the matter before absorbing the nutrients. Through this process they also return carbon and nitrogen back to the soil, making them available for new plants to grow – helping to create life from death!

They’re vital for the decomposition of dead wood, leaf litter, even animal remains. The cavities they create in dead wood are then used by insects and other creatures for shelter, which is particularly important during these colder months.

While they may get their nutrition through different means, plants and fungi have a special, symbiotic relationship. More than 80% of land plants partner with fungi to help extract nutrients – namely nitrogen and phosphorus – from the ground. Plants then return the favour by sharing the carbon produced from photosynthesis. This is done through a process called mycorrhiza, where fungi connect themselves to plant roots. This powerful partnership can significantly extend a plant’s ability to absorb both nutrients and water, protect it against harmful fungi, and allows for communication between plant through underground fungal networks – charmingly nicknamed the Wood Wide Web.

So if you go down to the woods today, take a closer look at what you find. What might just look like a moss covered log could be host to some fabulous fungi, featuring more insects in its crevices all thanks to some mushroom magic.