what is mushroom

A mushroom is the fruiting body of a fungus, which is produced by some fungi. It is similar to the fruit of a plant, except that the "seeds" it produces are millions of microscopic spores that form in the gills or pores underneath the mushrooms cap. The spores are spread by the wind or other means, such as animal feeding, and if they land on a suitable substrate, they will germinate to form a network of microscopic rooting threads (mycelium) which penetrate into their new food source. Unlike the mushroom, which pops up then passes away quickly, the mycelium persists, often for many years, extracting nutrients and sending up its annual crop of mushrooms. Mushrooms are fungi and not plants, although they are often considered vegetables. They belong to their own kingdom, the Fungi, which includes mold, yeasts, and rusts. Mushrooms are heterotrophs, meaning they rely on food sources in their surroundings for nutrients, such as animal waste, plant matter, and other materials.