Reference
Mushroom Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the mushroom, supplement, lab testing, and product terms used throughout ShrooMap.
Mushroom Parts and Compounds
- Fruiting body
- The visible mushroom structure that produces spores. Many supplement buyers prefer fruiting-body extracts because they are usually richer in beta-glucans than grain-grown mycelium products.
- Mycelium
- The root-like fungal network. Mycelium can be useful, but supplements grown on grain may include a large amount of starch unless the label clearly separates mycelium from substrate.
- Beta-glucans
- Polysaccharides found in fungal cell walls. Beta-glucan percentage is one of the most useful quality markers for functional mushroom extracts.
- Triterpenes
- Bitter compounds associated with reishi and some other mushrooms. They are often used as a marker for reishi extract quality.
- Ergothioneine
- A sulfur-containing antioxidant found in many edible mushrooms. It is studied for cellular stress and healthy aging support.
Supplement Formats
- Extract
- A concentrated mushroom preparation made with hot water, alcohol, or both. Extracts usually provide more active compounds per gram than raw mushroom powder.
- Dual extract
- An extract made with both water and alcohol. This format is common for mushrooms like reishi because different compounds dissolve best in different solvents.
- Powder
- Dried mushroom material ground into a powder. Powder can be convenient, but it may be less concentrated than an extract unless the label specifies an extract ratio.
- Tincture
- A liquid extract usually delivered by dropper. Tinctures are convenient for flexible serving sizes, but the active compound amount should still be disclosed.
- Standardized extract
- An extract adjusted or tested to contain a stated amount of a marker compound, such as beta-glucans or triterpenes.
Testing and Label Claims
- COA
- Certificate of Analysis. A lab report that should show identity, potency, heavy metals, microbes, and other safety results for a product batch.
- Heavy metals
- Contaminants such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. Mushrooms can accumulate metals, so responsible brands test every batch.
- Third-party testing
- Testing performed by an independent lab instead of only by the brand. This is stronger evidence than an in-house quality statement.
- Extract ratio
- A concentration claim such as 8:1 or 10:1. It means multiple parts of starting mushroom material were used to make one part of extract.
- Proprietary blend
- A grouped ingredient listing that hides individual ingredient amounts. This makes potency harder to evaluate and is a common transparency red flag.
Psychoactive Mushroom Terms
- Psilocybin
- A controlled psychedelic compound found in some Psilocybe mushrooms. Its legal status varies by jurisdiction and is different from legal functional mushroom supplements.
- Muscimol
- The primary active compound associated with Amanita muscaria products. Muscimol is not psilocybin and has a different effect profile and legal status.
- Microdose
- A very small serving intended to produce subtle effects. The term is often used loosely, so the actual milligram amount matters more than the marketing word.
- Smartshop
- A retailer, often in Europe, that sells legal psychoactive or functional products such as truffles, mushroom supplements, herbs, or related accessories.