Horizon：Most fascinating mushrooms
【明報專訊】Do you love eating mushrooms? Have you ever seen mushrooms in the wild? Actually, mushrooms are nature's hidden gems, offering surprises in shape, colour and even glow! These unique species are not just fascinating but also mysterious and remarkable!
◆Australia - Ghost fungus (澳洲鬼菇)
The ghost fungus is a fascinating mushroom found in Australia. This unique fungus glows greenish-blue in the dark due to special enzymes, which are the same chemicals that make fireflies glow. It looks like an edible mushroom, but it is actually toxic and can cause severe stomach pain and vomiting. Despite this, its eerie glow makes it popular among nature lovers and photographers.
◆New Zealand - Sky-blue mushroom (天藍蘑菇)
The sky-blue mushroom is a blue fungus found in New Zealand. It gets its striking colour from natural pigments in its cells. Its vivid blue hue makes it one of the most recognisable mushrooms in the world, even featuring on New Zealand's $50 banknote. Despite its beauty, it is possibly toxic and inedible. This mysterious mushroom adds to New Zealand's rich biodiversity and natural wonders.
◆Brazil - Yanomami Mushrooms (亞諾馬米食用菌菇)
The Yanomami Mushroom refers to various fungi traditionally collected and eaten by the Yanomami people in the Amazon rainforest. Known for its unique, earthy flavour, it is considered a superfood and has been an integral part of the indigenous tribe's culture and diet for centuries. As it is rare and not widely cultivated, conservationists work with the Yanomami to protect it, promoting sustainability and nature conservation in the Amazon.
■Gear up
Which of the following fungi is edible?
A. ghost fungus
B. sky-blue mushroom
C. Yanomami Mushrooms
(Answer on next text)
■Glossary
fungus (n) 真菌
eerie (adj) 奇異的
pigment (n) 色素
cultivate (v) 種植
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[Smarties' Power English 第435期]
