🍄 Crash course in the importance of mushrooms for those who love nature! 🌲
Mycelium and mushrooms are incredibly important components of the ecosystem. 🌱 Mycelium are the vast underground fungal networks that act as a sort of “superhighway” for nutrients and water in the soil, connecting plants and trees. 🌳Mycelium also helps to protect plants from disease and pests by producing natural antibiotic compounds (the antibiotic penicillin was derived from mycelium!). 🔬 Mushrooms, on the other hand, are the visible part of the mycelium network and play a key role in decomposition and nutrient cycling. 🍄 They help to break down organic matter into forms that can be used by plants, and they also help to retain water and help to prevent soil erosion. 💦Without mycelium and mushrooms, the environment would suffer greatly from a lack of essential nutrients and water, as well as an increase in soil erosion. 🌎
Think of mycelium as the invisible underground fungi network and mushrooms are the *temporarily* visible representation of this massive life-giving system. 🤍
Next time you’re taking in a deep breath of fresh air enjoying the natural landscape, thank the mycelium 🫶🏼
