Fungi release spores at certain times of the year which are airborne and can travel long distances. These spores are the blueprints for new Mushroom Buddy’s growth. A mature mushroom contains up to 16 billion spores. Spores are microscopic in size but are very important for growing mushrooms.
Fungal spores may trigger allergy symptoms in some people. These include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, sinusitis, bronchial problems and asthma. Different types of fungi produce and release spores at different times of the year. This is why sufferers of spore allergies can have allergy symptoms for large parts of the year.Many fungi have pale (white/cream) spores which can be identified by looking at the gills under the cap. The gills will have an annulus – a ring of tissue at the point where the spores attach to the stem (stipe). The stipe can be wavy or fibrous and is usually brown in colour. Often you can see the spores in the cap with a microscope.
A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting and Identifying Mushroom Spores in the UK
Psilocybe semilanceata is a common grassland mushroom in Britain and Ireland. It is found on pasture and parkland that has not been enriched with artificial fertiliser. It has a musty odour and is hallucinogenic when eaten. Eight teenagers in Wisconsin snorted the spores of this mushroom to get a high, and ended up in hospital with acute lung irritation. This mushroom can also cause hallucinations in dogs who have eaten a toxic amount of it.
