Fungal Fuzz

Did you know:

A "mushroom" is actually only the reproductive part of the organism--in the way an apple is only the fruit of the whole organism, the apple tree. The main part of a mushroom is underground or running through dead wood, and consists of a web or mat of hairlike fibers called a "mycelium" (the plural is "mycelia"). The mycelium is present even when there are no mushrooms.....

Evidence of the mycelium is sometimes found at the base of a mushroom's stem; there may be mycelial down or fuzz where the stem meets the ground. The presence or absence of basal mycelium is sometimes important in the identification process, as is its color. Mycelial cords or strands, called "rhizomorphs," are found in some species, and their presence often helps in identification decisions.

www.mushroomexpert.com