Kōrero: Fungi

Mushrooms are the spore-producing structures of some fungi. A mushroom consists of a stalk and a cap, and in most species the spores are formed on gills. When ripe, the spores fall downwards and are carried away from the mushroom on air currents. A spore that lands on a moist surface with nutrients can form a new fungal colony, but must mate with another colony of the same species before a new mushroom can be produced.