Pronounce it: mush-room

The mushroom is a fungus which comes in a wide range of varieties that belong to two distinct types: cultivated and wild. In myth and folklore mushrooms have always had something of a mystical connection: elves and fairies are often depicted sitting atop them, and they are known to spring up seemingly overnight in ‘fairy rings’. On a more practical level, many mushrooms and fungi can be poisonous or hallucinogenic. If foraging in the forest, it’s important to know what you’re looking for.