The fungal world.
The mushroom you see is one expression of a much larger, mostly hidden organism. From spore to mycelium to fruiting body.
The Fungal Life Cycle: From Spore to Spore
A mushroom is one brief moment in a longer story. We trace the complete life cycle of a fungus — spore, germination, mycelial growth, mating, fruiting, and dispersal — and explain the strange genetics that make fungi unlike plants or animals.
Open the plate
Mycorrhizal Networks: How Fungi Connect the Forest
Psilocybe cubensis: A Complete Species Profile
Fungal Anatomy: From Spore to Fruiting Body
Mushroom Anatomy: A Complete Structural Guide
Every part of a mushroom has a name and a function. We walk through the full structure — cap, gills, stem, ring, volva, spore print, and the hidden hyphal network beneath — and explain why each feature matters for identification and biology.
Open the plateThe groups that make psilocybin
The vocabulary, defined
The working language of mycology, in plain English.
The best of this topic, in your inbox.
One thoughtful piece a week, pulled from the archive and chosen for signal over noise.
Join 5,200 readers from 47 countries