We often see mushrooms growing from the ground or on trees and might assume they are plants. After all, they don’t move and look like they’re rooted in the soil, right? But actually, mushrooms are not plants at all.

They belong to a completely different group of living things called fungi. This means they have their own unique characteristics and life cycle that set them apart from plants.

Mushrooms Belong to the Fungi Kingdom

Unlike plants, mushrooms don’t make their own food using sunlight. Plants use a process called photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy, but mushrooms don’t have the tools to do this. Instead, mushrooms get their nutrients by breaking down dead matter or sometimes by living off other plants or animals. This makes fungi their own kingdom of life, just as important as plants and animals but very different.

How Mushrooms Grow

Mushrooms start their life underground as tiny thread-like structures called mycelium. This mycelium spreads out quietly beneath the surface, sometimes for months or even years. When conditions like moisture and temperature are just right, the mycelium produces the mushroom we can see — the fruiting body. This is the part we often eat or notice popping up on logs, soil, or grass.

The Life Cycle in Four Stages

The mushroom’s life can be broken down into four main stages: first, the mycelium stage, where the fungus grows unseen underground; second, the primordium stage, when tiny buds start to form; third, the pinhead stage, where the first small mushrooms appear; and finally, the mature mushroom stage, when the mushroom is fully grown and ready to release spores to reproduce.

Mushrooms Reproduce with Spores, Not Seeds

Plants spread by seeds, but mushrooms use spores. These spores are super tiny and light — they shoot out from under the mushroom’s cap and drift in the wind. When they land in the right place with enough moisture and nutrients, they start a new fungal colony. This reproduction method lets mushrooms spread quickly and live almost everywhere.

Why Mushrooms Matter

Though mushrooms aren’t plants, they play a huge role in nature. They break down dead leaves, wood, and other material, turning it into nutrients that enrich the soil. This helps plants grow better, showing how mushrooms and plants actually depend on each other. Plus, many mushrooms are delicious and nutritious for us, but some can be dangerous, so we should be careful about which ones we eat.

Mushrooms Are Special

So now we know mushrooms aren’t plants — they’re fungi with a unique way of living and growing. They may look like plants on the surface, but underneath, their story is quite different. Have you ever found a mushroom in the wild or tried growing some at home? Share your experience with us! Together, we can learn more about these fascinating organisms.