Gills Underneath

Peek under the cap

You know the cap now. But the cap is hiding something!

Gently tip your mushroom over and look underneath. Wash your hands first, and do this with a grown-up. See all those thin lines? Those are the gills.

What are gills?

The gills are thin, flat lines under the cap. They sit close together, side by side, like the pages of a tiny book.

On an oyster mushroom the gills are pale, often white or cream. They start under the cap and run all the way down toward the stem.

Scientists call the gills lamellae. That is a big word! You can just say gills.

The gills have a secret job

Here is the amazing part. The gills make spores.

Spores are like tiny, tiny seeds. They are so small you cannot see just one. A mushroom makes millions and millions of them. When spores land in a good spot, brand new mushrooms can grow.

So the gills are like a spore factory, tucked safely under the cap roof. Now you know why the cap keeps them dry!

Why so many lines?

Why does the mushroom have all those thin gills instead of one flat bottom?

Think of it this way. Lots of gills means lots of room. More room means space to make many more spores. It is a clever trick to make as many spores as possible.

• The cap sits on top like a roof.

• The gills hang underneath.

• The gills make the spores.

You will get to find those spores yourself very soon! For now, you can point under the cap and say the next name: gills.