Glossary · Physiology
Mycelium
The thread-like vegetative network of a fungus, growing through soil, wood, or grain substrate.
Plain language
The underground or in-substrate part of the fungus. By itself it can be a clean active fraction. Sold mixed with the grain it grew on, it is mostly grain.
Definition
The mycelium is the vegetative tissue of a fungus, composed of branching thread-like cells called hyphae that grow through the substrate. In commercial mushroom-supplement production, mycelium can be cultivated on grain (oats, rice, sorghum) and either separated from the grain before extraction (legitimate, comparable potency to fruiting body) or sold whole as 'mycelium-on-grain' (low beta-glucan content, mostly grain starch by mass).