Fruiting Body

A fruiting body is the reproductive structure of a fungus, the part that grows above ground or out of wood and releases spores. When you picture a mushroom with a cap and stem, or a shelf growing on a tree, you are picturing a fruiting body. It is a bit like the apple on an apple tree: the visible "fruit" of a much larger organism hidden below, called the mycelium.

How a fruiting body forms

A fungus spends most of its life as a network of fine threads spreading through soil, wood or another food source. When conditions are right, usually a change in temperature, moisture or light, the mycelium gathers resources and pushes up a fruiting body. Its job is to scatter spores so the fungus can spread to new places.

Shapes and forms

• Cap and gills: shiitake and grocery button mushrooms.
• Shelves and conks: reishi and turkey tail, with pores on the underside.
• Spines: lion's mane, which drops spores from icicle-like teeth.
• Clubs and jellies: cordyceps and tremella.

Why it matters on a product label

In the functional mushroom market, you will often see "made from fruiting bodies" or "100% fruiting body" on labels. This matters because the fruiting body and the mycelium can differ in their mix of compounds. Some products are made from mycelium grown on grain, which can include leftover grain starch in the final powder. Neither approach is wrong, but a clear label that tells you which part was used lets you compare products fairly. Independent third-party lab testing can help confirm what is inside.

A note from the chocolate side

Understanding terms like this is part of shopping confidently for functional confections. Polkadot pairs a functional, adaptogenic mushroom blend with premium Belgian chocolate. See the full picture in our guide to functional mushroom chocolate, or browse the white chocolate bars.