Re: Weekly Vocab 6: to know

Andreas Johansson scripsit:

> Incidentally, what is the difference 'tween "mushroom" and "fungus"?
Technically, a mushroom is the fruiting body, the part that sticks up
above the soil (or other substrate) and is eaten.  "Toadstool", as others
have said, refers to a poisonous mushroom.  Fungi that do not have
fruiting bodies are called "molds", especially when they invade food.
(This is usually bad, although in the case of blue cheese, which is
cheese invaded by _Penicillium notatum_, the common blue-green mold of bread,
it is considered good.  Go figure.)

Fungi that parasitize humans or other animals are generally called
"fungus infections".

--
A witness cannot give evidence of his           John Cowan
age unless he can remember being born.          jcowan@reutershealth.com
  --Judge Blagden                               http://www.ccil.org/~cowan

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