Identify Fungal Structures

Given a description or image of a fungal organism:

  1. Determine whether the visible structure is a fruiting body or exposed mycelium.
  2. If fruiting body: identify type (gilled mushroom, bracket, puffball, cup, etc.), note cap, stem, gills/pores/teeth, spore-bearing surface.
  3. Identify the likely substrate (soil, wood, dung, living host).
  4. Infer the ecological role: saprotroph (on dead matter), mycorrhizal (near living plant roots), or pathogen (on living tissue).
  5. Note any features relevant to identification: color, bruising reaction, spore print color, habitat.