What are 'mushrooms'?

Senior Moments

1. (Botanical) (a) An edible fungus (Agaricus campestris), having a white stalk which bears a convex or oven flattish expanded portion called the pileus. This is whitish and silky or somewhat scaly above, and bears on the under side radiating gills which are at first flesh-colored, but gradually become brown. The plant grows in rich pastures and is proverbial for rapidity of growth and shortness of duration. It has a pleasant smell, and is largely used as food. It is also cultivated from spawn. (b) Any large fungus, especially one of the genus {Agaricus;} a toadstool. Several species are {edible;} but many are very poisonous. (b) any fungus developing a visible fruiting body with a stem and cap, usu. of the basidiomycetes. a term used most often for edible varieties 2. One who rises suddenly from a low condition in {life;} an upstart. Bacon. Jan 09 02, 8:06 AM

Senior Moments

The article went on but I did not think it would all fit in one reply. Here is the second part taken from a dictionary. 1. Of or pertaining to {mushrooms;} as, mushroom catchup. 2. Resembling mushrooms in rapidity of growth and shortness of {duration;} {short-lived;} {ephemerial;} as, mushroom cities. Mushroom anchor, an anchor shaped like a mushroom, capable of grasping the ground in whatever way it falls. Mushroom coral (Zool.), any coral of the genus Fungia. See Fungia. Mushroom spawn (Bot.), the mycelium, or primary filamentous growth, of the {mushroom;} also, cakes of earth and manure containing this growth, which are used for propagation of the mushroom. mushroom cloud, a cloud of smoke rising and then spreading laterally to take on the shape of a mushroom caused by large fires or explosions, esp. nuclear explosions mushroom v. to grow or expand rapidly. mushroom into to grow so much and so rapidly as to change qualitatively Jan 09 02, 8:12 AM