Fungi Glossary

adaptogen / adaptogenic
A natural substance believed to help the body adapt to stress, support resilience, and maintain balance by regulating systems such as the nervous and hormonal systems.

Agaric
A member of the order Agaricales; a mushroom or toadstool. Contains many iconic and highly studied fungi. Often used synonymously with ‘mushroom’ to refer to a fungus that produces spores on gills.

Chaga
A nutrient-rich mushroom that grows mainly on birch trees in cold climates, known for its potential health benefits, such as boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, and acting as a powerful antioxidant. look no further than the chaga. With an earthy and bitter flavor, Chaga mushrooms can blend well in coffee or tea.

Cordyceps
A unique fungus traditionally found on caterpillars, known for its potential to boost energy, improve stamina, and support respiratory and immune health.

entheogen / entheogenic
A psychoactive substance, often used in sacred or spiritual contexts, to facilitate spiritual development or transcendence. The term, coined in 1979 to replace "psychedelic," emphasizes the traditional, ritualistic, and sacramental use of such substances throughout history.

fairy ring
Mushrooms or puffballs forming in a circle, started from a central mycelium in the soil. Fairy rings expand with time if undisturbed, and are associated with the supernatural in folklore. 

filament
A fine thread. Commonly used for hyphal threads or other simple thread-like fungal structures.

fruiting body
The spore-producing organ of a fungus, often seen as a mushroom or toadstool.

functional mushrooms / fungi
Refers to mushrooms that are both edible and possess medicinal or natural health properties like brain-boosting, stress-reducing, immunity-fueling, mood-enhancing.

fungus / fungi
A member of the Kingdom Fungi. Fungi are distinguished based on their morphology, nutritional modes, and ecology. These are organisms which typically are composed of hyphae, reproduce by spores and possess nuclei, and do not photosynthesize.

genus / genera
Taxonomic term meaning a group of similar species.

gill
Spore-bearing structure of mushrooms.

hallucinogen / hallucinogenic
Hallucinogens are psychoactive compounds that can cause significant changes in a person's consciousness, perception, mood, and thought. They can be categorized into three main types: psychedelics, dissociatives, and deliriants.

hypha / hyphae
A single microscopic, tubular filament of a mycelium that make up part of a fungus.

integration
The process of reflecting on and incorporating insights from a psychedelic experience into daily life, fostering healing, growth, and positive change in relationships with oneself, others, community, the earth, and, for some, a sense of spirit or universal consciousness.

Lion's Mane
A white, shaggy mushroom known for its potential to support brain health, boost cognitive function, and promote nerve regeneration, as well as for its antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. Known in the culinary world for its seafood-like aroma and flavor. 

medicinal mushrooms / fungi
Fungi containing compounds that provide health benefits, including antioxidative, cytotoxic, and therapeutic properties. They are used to develop or inspire drugs such as antibiotics, anti-cancer agents, cholesterol inhibitors, immunosuppressants, and psychotropic treatments.

mold
Multicellular fungi that forming a fuzzy or powdery appearance. Molds typically thrive on decaying matter in damp environments and reproduce via spores. They are typically visible to the naked eye and can be beneficial (e.g., penicillin) or harmful (e.g., food spoilage, allergens). 

mushroom
The spore-producing, above-ground fruiting body of a fungus, typically consisting of a cap, stem, and gills or pores underneath. Mushrooms are a subset of fungi. While fungi encompass a vast kingdom of organisms that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms, the term "mushroom" specifically refers to the visible, reproductive structures of certain fungi. Not all fungi produce mushrooms, but all mushrooms are part of Kingdom Fungi.

mycelium / mycelia / mycelial network
The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of microscopic, thread-like structures called hyphae. It grows in soil, organic matter, or a host and supports the fungus by absorbing nutrients and producing the fruiting body (e.g., mushrooms). 

mycobiota
The fungal community or aggregate of fungal species present in a specific area, environment, host, region, or geological period, encompassing all fungi within that ecosystem. The synonym "funga" is used as an ecological counterpart to "flora" (plants) and "fauna" (animals) to describe fungal biodiversity.

mycologist 
A scientist who studies fungi, including their biology, ecology, and uses.

mycology
The scientific study of fungi, including their classification, structure, function, and role in ecosystems.

mycophilia / mycophile
Love of fungi and lovers of fungi.

mycophobia / mycophobe
Fear of fungi and those afraid of fungi.

mycoremediation
A type of bioremediation that uses fungi to remove, break down, or reduce environmental pollutants, such as toxins in soil and water, by leveraging their natural ability to decompose organic matter and absorb contaminants.

mycorrhiza / mycorrhizal network
A symbiotic association between the mycelium of a fungus and the root system of a plant, usually where the fungus interfaces with the plant. One relationship can be that the fungus aids in nutrient and water absorption while receiving carbohydrates from the plant. It can be classified as ectotrophic (fungus forms a sheath around the root, creating a "Hartig net") or endotropic (fungal hyphae penetrate the root's cortical cells). 

psilocin
A psychoactive compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, derived from the breakdown of psilocybin in the body. It acts on serotonin receptors to produce mind-altering effects, which can vary widely between individuals. 

Psilocybe
A genus of gilled mushrooms in the family Hymenogastraceae, found worldwide. Many species in this genus contain the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin.

psilocybin
A naturally occurring compound found in psychedelic mushrooms that is biologically inactive until converted in the body to psilocin. It is known for its mind-altering effects, acting on serotonin receptors to produce changes in perception, mood, and cognition.

psychedelic mushrooms
Informally known as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms," these are fungi that contain psilocybin, a compound that converts to psilocin in the body, inducing altered states of consciousness or "trips." The most potent species are in the genus Psilocybe, though psilocybin is also found in other genera.

psychoactive
Referring to substances that affect the brain, altering perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior. Psychoactive substances include a wide range of compounds, such as caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and mind-altering drugs. The term is often used interchangeably with "psychotropic."

Reishi
A type of mushroom valued for its potential health benefits, including boosting the immune system, reducing stress, and supporting overall well-being. Often called the "mushroom of immortality," it has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

rematriation / rematriate
To return something sacred, such as land, knowledge, or culture, to its original source or to a state of balance, often with a focus on honoring and restoring the connection to the Earth and the mother. It's used by Indigenous women to describe their work to restore balance to the world.

Shiitake
An edible mushroom, native to East Asia, known for its rich, savory flavor and potential health benefits, such as boosting the immune system and supporting heart health. It is widely used in cooking and traditional medicine.

species
A group of living organisms that share common characteristics and can breed together to produce fertile offspring. It is the basic unit of biological classification.

spore
A microscopic reproductive structure in fungi, produced through sexual or asexual processes, that can germinate to grow into a new fungus.

stipe
The stem or stalk of a mushroom or fungus's fruiting body, supporting the cap.

substrate / substratum
A substance or surface which an organism grows and lives on and uses as food; the ecology in the directly local sense.

truffle
An underground, edible fungus known for its rich aroma and flavor, often used as a culinary delicacy.

Turkey Tail
A type of mushroom (Trametes versicolor) named for its colorful, fan-shaped appearance resembling a turkey's tail. It is known for its potential health benefits, including supporting the immune system and gut health.

yeast
Unicellular fungi that are smaller and typically not visible without a microscope. Yeasts are used in fermentation (e.g., baking, brewing) and some medical applications. Unlike molds and mushrooms, they do not form hyphae or spores in their standard lifecycle.