Sporocarp (fungi) facts for kids

This is a sporocarp, also called a fruiting body, of a fungus called Sarcoscypha austriaca.

A sporocarp is like the "fruit" of a fungus. You might know it better as a fruiting body. It's a special part of the fungus that makes and releases tiny spores. Spores are how fungi reproduce, similar to how plants use seeds.

What is a Sporocarp?

Most fungi live hidden underground or inside wood. But when it's time to reproduce, they grow a sporocarp. This is the part we usually see, like a mushroom or a bracket fungus on a tree. The sporocarp is a structure made of many cells. It holds the parts that create spores, such as basidia or asci. These are tiny structures where the spores are formed and then released into the air.

How Big Can Sporocarps Get?

Some sporocarps can grow to be very large! The biggest known fruiting body belongs to a fungus called Fomitiporia ellipsoidea. This giant fungus was found on Hainan Island. It can be over 10 meters (about 35 feet) long. Scientists think it can weigh between 400 and 500 kilograms (about 880 to 1,100 pounds). That's as heavy as a small car!