| Continued from the Sci4Kids story "Attack...of The Killer Fungus" | |
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~~~Mind-boggling Facts
About Mushrooms~~~
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Mushrooms have no
chlorophyll (a green pigment in plants), so
they don't need sunshine to grow and thrive. Some of the  earliest commercial mushroom farms were actually
set up in caves in France during the reign of King
Louis XIV (1638-1715). |
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~ Grains and foods that come from animals are good sources of selenium. But in fresh produce, only mushrooms contain significant amounts of this mineral. Selenium plays an important role in the human immune system, the thyroid system, and the male reproductive system. |
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Mushrooms are an
excellent source of copper, a mineral that the body needs to produce red
blood cells and for other functions. ~ Mushrooms have significant amounts of three B-complex vitamins: riboflavin (rye-bo-FLAY-vin), niacin (NYE-eh-sin), and pantothenic (pan-toe-THIN-ick) acid. The B vitamins help release energy from the fat, protein, and carbohydrates in food. |
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To keep mushrooms
fresh, store them in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Avoid airtight containers
that can collect moisture and cause them to spoil faster. ~ Consumption of mushrooms in the United States increased from 3.7 pounds per person in 1993 to 4.2 pounds per person in 2000. |
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Sales of the 2001-2002
U.S. mushroom crop totaled 851 million pounds, and consumers spent $912
million on them.  ~ Truffles, or mushrooms that grow below the ground, are one of the world's most expensive foods. One variety, Tuber melanosporum, can cost between $800 and $1,500 a pound. |
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~ The largest living organism ever found is a honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae. It covers 3.4 square miles of land in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, and it's still growing! Click here to return to main story. Click here for next section, "Naming Species...What's in a Name?" Or,
click this icon to return home to |
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One portabella mushroom
has more potassium than a banana. White and crimini mushrooms are also
good sources of potassium. Potassium helps the human body maintain normal
heart rhythm, fluid balance, and muscle and nerve function.