Re: USAGE: Words for fungi (mushrooms/toadstools/champignons/etc)

On Tue, Feb 01, 2005 at 04:02:18PM -0500, Mark J. Reed wrote:
> We seem to be agreed that there is a general, broad category called "fungi"
> (singular "fungus"), which includes both umbrella-shaped and
> non-umbrella-shaped, edible and inedible varieties.
>
> We are further in agreement that edible umbrella-shaped fungi are
> "mushrooms".
Hmm. To me, "mushroom" may also include non-parasol[*] fungi fruiting
bodies as well, as long as they are "close enough" in shape. E.g.,
chanterelles are trumpet-shaped, yet I'm sure most people would agree
they qualify as "mushrooms".

[*] Non-umbrella-shaped.

<ObConlang> In Tatari Faran, chanterelles are called _pireis_
["pi4ejs]. There's also a kind of giant edible mushroom in Fara, like
the giant version of the portobello, called _buneis_ [bu"nejs],
growing up to 3-4 feet in diameter, and really delicious in gourmet
cooking (at least so claim the san faran). Must have something to do
with the fertile volcanic soil. ;-) </ObConlang>


> Past this point, disagreement sets in.  Inedible umbrella-shaped fungi
> are most commonly considered "toadstools", but some use either
> "mushroom" or "toadstool" to refer to all umbrella-shaped fungi
> regardless of edibility.   (Hm.  Does anyone use the terms completely
> interchangeably?)
I avoid the term "toadstool", since it's inaccurate and carries the
wrong connotations. I use "mushroom" for all parasol fruiting bodies
of fungi, as well as fungi that are "close enough" to being parasol
shaped. So I'd consider chanterelles and morels as mushrooms, but
puffballs and sulfur shelves I'd just call fungi unless I qualify what
exactly I mean by "mushroom". (And truffles are just... truffles. :-P)

Also, a technical nitpick: there aren't any umbrella-shaped fungi that
I know of, although there are lots of umbrella-shaped fruiting bodies
of fungi. :-) Although we usually think of a mushroom as an
individual, complete fungus in and of itself, it is very common for a
single (underground/embedded in wood) fungi to produce many mushrooms
at the same time. Hence, you often see mushroom patches with clumps of
mushrooms. Mushrooms are to fungi as apples are to apple trees. The
fungus itself, if you could see it, is just a hairy blob of fibres,
like mold.


> Is there any general term more specific than "fungus/i" to
> refer specifically to the non-umbrella-shaped varieties, or to
> edible/inedible varieties regardless of shape?
[...]

I don't know of any, although some mushroom fans like myself like to
stretch the word "mushroom" to refer to all fungus fruiting bodies.
:-)


T

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