A little essay about mushrooms...

[guenter@student.uni-kl.de (Marvin)]

A little essay about mushrooms... (No, this is no off-topic posting)

During my studies I have learned a lot about mushrooms and various
plants and I think it could be interesting to know how they live
together... There are tree forms of mushrooms known:

1) Mykorhiza mushrooms
Perhaps you have noticed that certain mushrooms grow only under
certain trees. They live in close symbiosis with the roots of the tree
and feed from what the tree gives to them voluntarily. In return they
help the tree to grow.

2) Saphrophytic mushrooms
These mushrooms feed from that which has the tree discarded as dead
and useless like leaves, old branches etc. While the tree does not
profit directly from them, they will help him to grow anyway. They
recycle the dead stuff and create a fertile soil for the tree.

3) Parasitic mushrooms
These mushrooms feed from the living tissue of the tree itself and
don't help him to survive. They can even kill him if there are enough.
Some parasites will steal only so much that the tree doesn't die,
because they "know" that they will die then, too. More violent types
will try to obliterate the tree completely.

Well, which type of mushrooms do you prefer? The parasitic mushrooms
can be a problem, especially if the tree is already rotten in its core.
It's important to keep their number low if you want to save the tree.

But no lunatics who run through the forest, destroying all mushrooms
which they find, can save it - in fact they will even hurt the tree more.

How can you save a sick tree?

- Replace the rotten core with a new solid core of concrete!

- Spread enough dead material which will be gratefully accepted by
   the saphrophytic mushrooms and becomes fertilizer for the tree soon.

- Maintain the tree. Tend it well. Keep it alive and mykorhiza mushrooms
   will continue to grow around him!

In a healthy tree, parasitic mushrooms will mean no more danger... :)


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        Much room       /  O   O   O \    "Only love 
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           for         (--------------)    can defeat
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        mushrooms! ;)       ///|\\\O O\    software piracy!"
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