Tag Archives: Mushrooms

Orion Magazine – Summer 2025 – Nature & Culture

Summer 2025 Issue - Orion Magazine

ORION MAGAZINE (May 30, 2025): The Summer 2025 Issue features ….

Out of the Ashes

Examined Life – How fungi are surviving—and even thriving—in a warming world

Natural Intelligence

A photo of mushrooms growing out of mushrooms. The photo is taken with a blue background

Mushrooms made the world what it is by Maria Popova

Foodways

Intuitive Eating

A black and white illustration of Merlin Sheldrake, Jeff VanderMeer, and Kaitlin Smith surrounded by pink and brown round abstract shapes

On poison, pleasure, and trust by Erica Berry

A New Naturalism

Four writers reflect on the rhizomatic network of self, society, and ecology

Corey PressmanMerlin SheldrakeKaitlin Smith and Jeff Vandermeer

Timelapse Views: ‘Oyster Mushrooms’ In Denmark

Filmed and Edited by: Casper Rolsted

Immerse yourself in the exciting world of mushrooms. Shot in the most beautiful forests in Denmark. See and listen to this timelapse film in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Headphones are highly recommended.

Only in silence can we hear the song of nature.

FUNGI
Fungi are living organisms that are made up of larger cells with a cell nucleus which contains all the genetic material. Fungi are thus what we call eukaryotic organisms, which is one of the three domains of biology: animals (Animalia), plants (Plantae) and fungi (Fungi). The rest of the eukaryotic organisms, which do not fit into these three kingdoms, are called protists.

Fungi is a kingdom with about 144,000 known and described species of organisms. But it is estimated that there may be between 2.2 million and 3.8 million total species. They can be single celled or very complex multicellular organisms. The fungi kingdom includes yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and mushrooms. Fungi are among the most widely distributed organisms on Earth and they are of very big environmental and medical importance.

MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies that some fungi produce – typically above ground on the soil or on decaying wood or other food sources. Mushroom varies in size, shape, color, and longevity. Some mushrooms are microscopic and completely invisible to the unaided eye while others are gigantic structures.
The fine threads under-ground that makes up the main body of the fungi is called mycelium. The mycelium stretches out beneath the mushroom in search of water and food.
Unlike a plant, a fungus can’t make its own food by using energy from the sun. Instead, the fungus produces enzymes which are released by the mycelium and break down dead plants and animals. This organic matter is then absorbed through the mycelium and used by the fungus for growth.
The mushrooms, because of their size, are easily seen in fields and forests and consequently were the only fungi known before the invention of the microscope.

OYSTER MUSHROOMS
Oyster mushrooms is the common name for the species Pleurotus ostreatus. The funghi normally grow naturally on and near trees in temperate and subtropic forests. They are found around the world including in the UK and Ireland, most of mainland Europe, Asia, and parts of North America. Unlike many fungi, these mushrooms are not seasonal and can be found all year round.
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most widely consumed mushrooms in the world and are grown commercially in many countries. They aren’t just tasty; they can be really healthy to eat. They contain antioxidants and are high in several vitamins and minerals. They even have the potential to lower cholesterol levels, slow the spread of cancer and decrease inflammation in the body.
Oyster mushrooms get their name from their oyster or shell shaped cap that grow in tiers or clusters. They have a very short or non-existent stem. The color is typically light grey or greyish-brown. Oyster mushrooms are medium to large in size with caps averaging from 5 to 25 centimeters in diameter.
Oyster mushrooms use powerful enzymes to break down and eat hardwood. Oyster mushrooms are one of the few carnivorous mushrooms. The mycelia of oyster mushrooms secrete a powerful toxin to stuns passing microscopic nematode, which are small roundworms. The fungi use their sprawling fibers to seek out and enter the mouths of these microscopic nematodes and suck out their guts. This gives the fungi nitrogen for growth.

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Photographer, Editor and Sound Designer: Casper Rolsted
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Tibet: A Day In The Life Of A Himalayan Yak Man (Video)

This video is about the daily life of a typical Himalayan yak man, and how he spend his day and how he earns the money to support his whole family. I lived with him and his family for whole two days, and followed him for the life. He lived a simple life, but he deserves all of our respect.

Foods & Dining Video: ‘Smallhold Farms’ Grows Rare & Unique Mushrooms For New York City Eateries

Smallhold is a macrofarm in Brooklyn that has created artificial environments for growing rare and unique mushrooms for local restaurants and grocers. Their goal is to open people’s minds to using mushrooms in more cooking, while creating sustainable farms in multiple cities nationwide. https://www.smallhold.com/