Mushroom Room
The mushroom kingdom: between folk beliefs and reality
In the past, scholars considered fungi to be lower forms of plant life and were studied within the framework of botany. In fact, fungi differ so much from plants with leaves and flowers that, in recent times, they have been placed by biologists in a separate "realm."
The major difference that distinguishes mushrooms from plants is the nutrition system: they in fact do not carry out the chlorophyll photosynthesis, but they feed on other organisms, such as dead parts of plants, forest litter.
Fungi also possess a genetic heritage not shared by other living things.
The most well-known and sought-after mushrooms are those with fruiting body, which is actually a product of the mycelium, the real fungus, created by the fungus itself to release reproductive spores.
However, these fungi represent only a small part of the vast fungal kingdom, estimated at about 1.5 million species.
One of the most popular popular beliefs is that the mushroom is born underground and is then suddenly pushed to the surface by a gas.
This belief is disproved by studies showing gradual growth. A famous photographic observation at the Lugano Museum shows that the development of a porcupine occurs in a few hours.
In the museum collections
Mycology
How we work
Mushroom Preservation
The Grandola ed Uniti Museum uses a freeze-dryer, granted by the Cantonal Museum of Lugano, to optimally preserve mushrooms.
La lyophilization occurs by freezing mushrooms at -50 °C and creating a vacuum, allowing water to evaporate directly without passing through the liquid state.
This process preserves shape and color, ensuring that mushrooms are preserved for decades.
Through this technique, the museum has created a small mycological collection.
