The Secret Web Underground

The hidden part of the fungus

Last time we learned a big secret. The mushroom is only the tip. Most of the fungus hides under the ground.

That hidden part has a name. It is called mycelium. Say it like this: my-SEE-lee-um.

A web of tiny threads

Mycelium is made of tiny white threads. Each thread is thinner than a hair. Together they spread out like a soft, fuzzy web.

Dig gently near an old log and you might see them. They look like little white strings or cotton fluff.

These threads grow and grow. They reach through the soil to find food and water. A big mycelium web can be wider than your whole classroom!

What the web does

The mycelium is the busy part of the fungus. It has three jobs:

• It soaks up food from leaves, wood, and soil.

• It drinks water to stay alive.

• It grows bigger and bigger through the ground.

Think of the mushroom above the ground as a little flag. The real fungus is the giant web hiding below.

Nature's helper

Mycelium is a helper for the forest. It breaks old leaves and wood into tiny bits. Those bits turn back into soil. New plants use that soil to grow.

So the fungus cleans up the forest and feeds it too. Pretty clever for something with no eyes and no hands!

When a mushroom grows

When the weather is just right, often after rain, the mycelium makes a mushroom. The mushroom pushes up so it can send out spores. We will learn about spores next.

Remember our safety rule: never touch your mouth after digging, and never eat a wild mushroom. Always wash your hands and ask a grown-up. Our grow kits use safe, known kinds of mycelium.

You found the secret web. Case solved, detective!