Mushrooms are a type of fungus belonging to the kingdom Fungi. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colours and can be found in a wide range of environments around the world, from forests and grasslands to deserts and even urban areas. Mushrooms typically consist of a stem, cap, and sometimes gills or pores underneath the cap where spores are produced.

There are thousands of species of mushrooms, some of which are edible and widely consumed as food, while others are poisonous and can cause illness or even death if ingested. Edible mushrooms are valued for their taste and nutritional content, as they can be good sources of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

In addition to their culinary uses, mushrooms have been used for various purposes throughout history, including medicinal, spiritual, and recreational purposes. They play important roles in ecosystems by decomposing organic matter and cycling nutrients, and some species form symbiotic relationships with plants, helping them absorb nutrients from the soil.