A fungus without a cap
Vive Cabeceiras · Biologia geral dos fungos · no local occurrence assigned

The world of fungi also fits beneath a microscope.

Not all fungi form the mushrooms we recognise. Kew describes microfungi, including moulds, that can produce spores directly on their hyphae. Looking only for visible caps therefore leaves out part of this kingdom. This explains biological diversity; it does not identify moulds on food or plants in the municipality.

Even among fungi with larger reproductive structures, not everything appears above ground. Kew uses truffles as an example of underground fruiting and explains the role of animals in spreading their spores. A walk spent looking only for caps on the surface reveals just part of the diversity.

Mycelial networks also meet one another. The source distinguishes competition between incompatible fungi from joining between compatible partners. This is another reason not to imagine soil as a single, uniform network: it contains different organisms and relationships that a photograph of mushrooms cannot reveal.

Sources and context
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — What in earth? Understanding what fungi really are, Eddie Johnston (07/10/2022)
https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/what-is-fungi
Accessed: 2026-11-07

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