Psilocybin – the tip of the iceberg

Armillaria ostoyae – The largest organism on Earth

If you were to be on a TV game show and were asked about the largest organism on Earth, don’t be fooled, it’s not a 1000 year old sequoia or a whale, but Armillaria dusky! In 2001, researchers in Oregon (USA) accidentally stumbled upon this clue when it turned out that trees that were massively infected with “Armillaria root rot” were infected by the same organism.

Genetic studies have confirmed this. It is therefore estimated that the dark honey fungus in the Blue Mountains weighs about 605 tons, grows on an area of ​​8.9 km², and is estimated to be 8,000 years old!

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis – Grzyb zombie!

The concept of a plague turning people into bloodthirsty beasts that feed on the brains of their neighbors has been known in pop culture for a long time and is completely fiction.

Is that really true? In the tropical forests, there is a fungus of the genus “cordyceps” whose spores infect the nervous system of local ants, then force them to climb a tree, bite into a leaf, and lead to the death of the ant… Then the fungus grows out of its body, creating more spores, and the cycle closes.

This fungus became the star of “The Last of Us” and fortunately, in the real world it is not dangerous to humans – it requires a much lower temperature to develop than that which occurs in the human body. Unless it mutates someday…

More detailed information about this amazing mushroom can be read on the website at this link.

Mycena lux-coeli – Bioluminescent mushroom

Mycena lux-coeli, meaning “Light of Heaven,” is a bioluminescent fungus discovered on the Japanese island of Hachijō-jima, known for emitting a greenish light in dark, damp forests. It glows through a chemical reaction involving luciferin and luciferase—similar to fireflies.

Although the exact function of this phenomenon is uncertain, it is thought to attract insects that aid in dispersing spores. The fungus has become a local attraction and has inspired research into natural light sources.

Fomitiporia ellipsoidea – The mushroom with the heaviest fruiting body

Although the aforementioned honey fungus is characterized by a considerable weight, we have another record holder in a similar category. A mushroom discovered in China has a fruiting body that is up to 10 meters long and weighs up to 500 kg!

The main difference is that honey fungus grows underground and its weight is not determined by the size of the fruiting bodies. Many mushroom enthusiasts certainly dream of finding a half-ton boletus or truffle…

Clathrus archeri – “Devil’s fingers

It is one of the most unusual and eerie mushrooms in the world. It grows from an underground “egg” that develops long, red arms that resemble decaying fingers or tentacles – often covered in a dark, slimy coating. This appearance, combined with the intense smell of rotting flesh, makes it easy to mistake the mushroom for something dead.

This smell is not accidental – it is designed to attract carrion flies, which, when they land on the surface of the fungus, collect spores and spread them further, aiding its reproduction. Clathrus archeri comes from Australia and Tasmania, but in the 20th century it was accidentally brought to Europe – it is now found in France, Germany and Poland, among other places.

Although it looks dangerous, it is not poisonous, but due to its repulsive smell it has no culinary use.

Pestalotiopsis microspora – The plastic-eating fungus

Rainforests contain more unusual organisms. One of them is a fungus that can break down polyurethane plastic, one of the most difficult plastics to dispose of. What’s more, this fungus can do this even in anaerobic conditions, making it a very promising candidate for use in closed waste disposal systems.

Amanita Muscaria and Berserkers – Nordic Fury from the Forest

In Norse legends, berserkers were warriors who fell into a combat trance, becoming almost invincible – immune to pain, wild as animals. One hypothesis suggests that their combat frenzy could have been triggered by psychoactive substances, and among them is often mentioned a decoction of the fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria).

Amanita Muscaria contains psychoactive compounds, mainly muscarine, ibotenic acid and muscimol, which in appropriate doses can cause hallucinations, euphoria, disorientation and agitation. According to some interpretations, berserkers could consume an infusion of this mushroom before a fight to induce a state of combat frenzy (berserkergangr) – which made them unpredictable and terrifying opponents.

There is, however, no hard evidence that they actually used fly agaric – despite this, it remains one of the most frequently invoked substances associated with the mythical warriors of the North.

The world of mushrooms may hold more secrets

As you can see, the world of mushrooms hides many interesting, but sometimes dark secrets. The diversity of mushrooms, their morphological appearance and survival tactics is incredibly impressive, and their characteristics have often become an inspiration for artists, scriptwriters or creators of legends. Who knows how many more undiscovered secrets the mysterious world of mushrooms hides from us?

literature:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/

https://bmcecol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6785-11-13

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/05/0fdaaf72590e-luminous-mushrooms-in-western-japan-woods-create-magical-tmosphere.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1878614611001139

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3165411/