Is A Mushroom an Animal or a Fungus ?
A mushroom is an above-ground fruiting body (that is, a spore-producing structure) of a fungus, having a shaft and a cap. By extension, it designates the entire fungus producing the fruiting body of such appearance, the former consisting of a network (called the mycelium) of filaments or hyphae. In a much broader sense, mushroom is applied to any visible fungus, or especially the fruiting body of any fungus, with the mycelium usually being hidden under bark, ground, rotten wood, leaves, etc. The technical term for the spore-producing structure of “true” mushrooms is the basidiocarp. The term “toadstool” is used typically to designate a basidiocarp that is poisonous to eat.
