Mushroom Anatomy in 3D: Cap, Gills, Spores and Mycelium
Mushrooms are not plants at all. They are fungi, and the mushroom is just the fruit of a huge hidden web of threads underground. In the 3D Plant Anatomy simulator you can turn one around, zoom into each part, slice it open and see its threads in X-ray.
Explore in 3DFour ways to see the mushroom
Whole plant
Cross-section
X-ray water flowMushroom quick facts
| Group | Fungus, not a plant |
|---|---|
| Makes food from sunlight | No |
| Spreads by | Tiny spores |
| Main body | Mycelium, a web of threads underground |
| This model | A red and white fly agaric, which is poisonous |
Inside the mushroom
Under the cap are thin gills that release millions of tiny spores. The stalk holds the cap up, and below the ground a vast web of fine threads called mycelium spreads through the soil, feeding on dead leaves and wood.
Parts of the mushroom
In the Parts up close view you can tap each of these parts to zoom in:
- Cap
- The bright cap shelters the gills underneath and warns animals that this mushroom is poisonous.
- Gills
- Thin gills under the cap make millions of tiny spores.
- Spores
- Spores are like dust-sized seeds. The wind carries them away to start new fungi.
- Ring
- The ring is what is left of a thin skin that covered the gills while the mushroom was young.
- Base
- The swollen base sits in a cup left over from the egg the mushroom hatched from.
- Mycelium
- The real body of the fungus is this web of fine threads spreading through the soil.
Interesting facts about the mushroom
- Mushrooms are fungi, not plants, and cannot make food from sunlight.
- The mushroom is only the fruit. The main body is a web of threads underground called mycelium.
- The gills under the cap release millions of tiny spores.
- Fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants.
- The red and white fly agaric in this model is poisonous and should never be eaten.
Compare: Plant vs Fungus: Why a Mushroom Is Not a Plant
More plants in 3D
Mushroom anatomy questions
Is a mushroom a plant?
No. Mushrooms are fungi. They cannot make food from sunlight and are more closely related to animals than plants.
What are mushroom gills for?
The thin gills under the cap release spores, which spread to grow new fungi.
What is mycelium?
The main body of a fungus, a web of fine threads that spreads through soil or wood.
Is the red and white mushroom poisonous?
Yes. The fly agaric is poisonous and should never be eaten.
The 3D Plant Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.