The Shroomery Mushroom Glossary

This glossary is to serve as a reference for both beginners and the advanced. Please e-mail us if you have any definitions that you feel should be added here.

You are also invited to pay a visit to The Shroomery Mycology Glossary.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z all

S
Saprophyte	A Fungus that grows by taking nourishment from dead organisms
Sclerotium	A hard surfaced resting body of fungal cells resistant to unfavorable conditions,which may remain dormant for long periods of time and resume growth on the return of favorable conditions.
Secondary metabolite	Product of intermediary Metabolism released from a cell, such as an antibiotic.
Selective medium	Medium that allows the growth of certain types of microorganisms in preference to others. For example, an antibiotic-containing medium allows the growth of only those microorganisms resistant to the Antibiotic.
Set, Setting, and Dosage	Where you are, what you're doing/feeling/thinking and how much mushroom you have taken. By the time you've read the FAQs, and grown a batch of your own, you'll probably have a good idea of how much mushroom you'll need to get where you want to go. Recommended settings are: anywhere natural with as few people as possible (the woods, the beach, a park, a nature reserve); anywhere you know you'll have privacy for the duration. If you're living with your parents, you probably don't want them walking in on you while you're curled up in a corner, giggling happily at the wallpaper.
Simmer	To cook just below or at the boiling point.
Slant	A test tube with growth medium, which has been sterilized and slanted to increase the surface area
Spawn	The pure Culture of Mycelium on grain, sawdust, etc., used to inoculate the final Substrate
Spawn run	The vegetative growth period of the Mycelium after spawning the Substrate
Species	Fundamental unit of biological taxonomy. Generally spoken, two individuals belong to the same species if they can produce fertile offspring
Spore Print	A piece of paper or glass that has the Spores that have fallen off of a Cap.
Spore Syringe	Many of the techniques for growing mushrooms indoors involve mixing up a Spore Print with some water, and injecting the result into a sterile container full of something the Spores can infect, produce Mycelium in, and eat. Several companies will sell you ready-to-use spore syringes for a few pounds/dollars. This site has links to, or address for, many of these companies.
Spores	What mushrooms have instead of seeds. Absolutely microscopic, but produced by the millions by each and every mushroom.
Stamets, Paul	The owner of Fungi Perfecti and mushroom guru. The co-author of The Mushroom Cultivator and many other helpful books.
Stem	The Stipe or stalk of a growing mushroom.
Sterilization	Completely destroying all micro organisms present, by heat(autoclave, pressure cooker) or chemicals. Spawn Substrate always has to be sterilized prior to Inoculation.
Stipe	The Stem of a mushroom at the top of which the Cap or Pileus is attached
Strain	The equivalent of race in plants and animals. The same Species may consist of strains that vary considerably in genetic make up, but all are sexually compatible
Straw	The dried remains of fine-stemmed plants(wheat, Rye, barley...) from which the seed has been removed in threshing. Straw has a golden color.
Stroma	Dense mycelial growth without Fruiting. Stroma occurs if Spawn is mishandled or exposed to harmful petroleum-based fumes or chemicals. It also occurs in dry environments.
Substrate	Whatever you're using to grow the mushrooms on. Different varieties of mushroom like to eat different things (rice, Rye grain, Straw, Compost, woodchips, birdseed). Different techniques involve infecting substrates with anything from Spores, to chopped-up Mycelium, to blended mushroom.