Mycelium Explained: The Secret Life of Fungi

The Secret Underground Network That Sustains Life on Earth

What is mycelium? Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a vast network of thread-like filaments called hyphae that spread through soil and organic matter. This hidden underground web acts as nature's internet, connecting plants, recycling nutrients, and supporting entire ecosystems from beneath our feet.

Quick Facts About Mycelium:

• Structure: Thread-like hyphae forming branching networks
• Function: Decomposes organic matter and absorbs nutrients
• Scale: Can span from millimeters to thousands of acres
• Role: Connects plant roots in symbiotic relationships
• Impact: Forms 20-30% of soil biomass and supports 83% of plant species

Most people think of mushrooms when they hear "fungi," but those visible fruiting bodies are just the tip of the iceberg. The real powerhouse lies hidden underground—a vast network of mycelium that has been quietly sustaining life on Earth for over a billion years.

This fungal web forms partnerships with plant roots, shares resources across forest networks, and shows signs of primitive intelligence. From gardens to forests, mycelium acts as nature's recycling system and communication network.

Understanding mycelium offers solutions for sustainable materials, environmental cleanup, and health supplements. I'm Brandi Garden, co-founder of Eversio Wellness, and through years of research into what is mycelium and its applications, I've seen how these underground systems can transform both our health and our planet.

What Is Mycelium?

Picture an underground internet that predates dinosaurs—that’s what is mycelium. These living threads, called hyphae, form vast networks beneath forests, gardens, and even city parks. A single teaspoon of healthy soil can hide up to 10 kilometres of hyphae, quietly decomposing organic matter and shuttling nutrients where they’re needed most.

Unlike plant roots that passively absorb what’s already available, mycelium is proactive. It releases powerful enzymes that open up nutrients bound in fallen logs, dead leaves, and even tough cellulose. In other words, fungi don’t wait for food—they create it.

The scale is breathtaking. Some networks are no bigger than a postage stamp, while others—like Oregon’s famous Armillaria—cover thousands of acres and can live for centuries.

What is mycelium in simple terms?

Think of mycelium as the body of a fungus. If a mushroom is the fruit, mycelium is the roots, trunk, and branches combined—everything working year-round to keep the organism alive.

What is mycelium vs mushroom fruiting body?

A mushroom is the reproductive structure, built for short-term spore dispersal. Mycelium is the long-term growth engine focused on survival and partnership with plants. That’s why Eversio Wellness uses fruiting body extracts: the fruiting body concentrates protective compounds like beta-glucans, while grain-grown mycelium often contains more filler than fungus.

Structure & Function Through the Fungal Life Cycle

From single spore to sprawling network, fungi are masters of rapid change. Once a spore lands in the right spot it germinates, sending out a hyphal tip guided by a microscopic growth centre called the Spitzenkörper. Thousands of tips extend at once, fusing through anastomosis and creating an interconnected web that can share nutrients and information.

When conditions are right—temperature, moisture, and food supply—the network reallocates resources to build mushrooms. After the brief fruiting stage, the mycelium remains underground, ready to repeat the cycle.

Mycelium obtains nutrients—how and why?

Instead of swallowing food, mycelium digests the environment. Enzymes break down lignin, cellulose, and other tough molecules; simple nutrients then flow through the porous hyphal walls. This extracellular digestion lets fungi thrive where plants and animals would starve.

Mycelium: the growth engine of fungi

Because every hyphal tip grows simultaneously, mycelium can colonize new territory with astonishing speed—sometimes centimetres per day. Chemical gradients act like road signs, guiding growth toward rich food sources and away from toxins. Research even shows mycelial networks exhibit memory-like behaviours, prioritising paths that previously led to nutrients.

Mycelial Networks & Planetary Health

Mycelial networks form the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems, influencing everything from soil formation to climate regulation. These underground systems constitute 20-30% of soil biomass and play crucial roles in carbon sequestration, storing significant atmospheric carbon in soil organic matter.

The networks serve as nature's communication highways. Plants connected to mycorrhizal networks can share resources, send chemical signals about pest attacks, and support struggling neighbors. This creates resilient ecosystems that better withstand environmental stresses like drought, disease, and climate fluctuations.

Most importantly, mycelial networks drive global nutrient cycles supporting all terrestrial life. Without fungi breaking down organic matter and making nutrients available to plants, terrestrial ecosystems would collapse. The largest organism on Earth—a honey mushroom mycelium in Oregon covering 2,200 acres—demonstrates the incredible scale at which these networks operate.

Mycorrhizal relationships: plants & fungi in partnership

The partnership between plants and mycorrhizal fungi represents evolution's most successful collaborations. About 83% of plant species form these mutually beneficial relationships, trading plant-produced sugars for fungal-delivered nutrients and water.

This relationship works like a sophisticated marketplace. Plants provide fungi with carbohydrates from photosynthesis—paying for services with sugar. In return, mycorrhizal fungi extend the plant's root system by up to 1,000 times, accessing nutrients and water far beyond root reach.

The benefits extend far beyond nutrient exchange. Mycorrhizal networks can transport nutrients from healthy plants to struggling ones, supporting forest-wide health. They also improve plant drought tolerance, improve soil structure, and provide protection against pathogens and pests.

There are two main types: ectomycorrhizas, forming sheaths around root tips (common with trees), and endomycorrhizas, penetrating root cells (common with grasses and crops). Both create networks connecting multiple plant species, facilitating inter-plant communication and resource sharing.

This partnership is so fundamental that many plants cannot survive without fungal partners. Orchid seeds contain no stored nutrients and can only germinate when specific mycorrhizal fungi provide necessary resources, highlighting how deeply intertwined plant and fungal evolution has become.

The world's biggest mycelium—Oregon's Armillaria

In Oregon's Malheur National Forest grows what may be the largest living organism on Earth: a single Armillaria ostoyae mycelium covering approximately 2,200 acres. This massive network, estimated at 2,400 years old, demonstrates mycelial growth's incredible potential.

This fungal giant began as a single spore and has steadily expanded for millennia. It survives by parasitizing tree roots, slowly killing hosts and decomposing dead wood. While this sounds destructive, the fungus plays an important ecological role, removing diseased trees and recycling nutrients back into the forest ecosystem.

The Oregon Armillaria challenges our understanding of what constitutes a single organism. This network likely contains trillions of individual cells, all genetically identical and working as one coordinated system. It responds to environmental changes across its entire range, redirects resources to different areas, and coordinates reproductive efforts over vast distances.

Similar massive networks exist worldwide, though they're difficult to study due to their underground nature. These giants remind us that Earth's most significant life forms often remain hidden from view, quietly maintaining ecological processes that support all other life.

Innovation & Industry: Human Uses of Mycelium

Mycelium is no longer just a scientific curiosity—it’s a sustainable workhorse. Grown on agricultural waste, it forms biocomposites that are naturally fire-resistant, excellent insulators (0.05–0.07 W/m·K), and fully biodegradable. Because the material grows into a mould, manufacturing needs minimal energy or equipment.

From waste to wonders—mycelium materials

Today you can find mycelium in packaging, building panels, sound-absorbing tiles, and vegan leather. Protective inserts that once required polystyrene now come from fungi and decompose in backyard compost. Fashion houses have debuted handbags and shoes grown, not sewn, from mycelium “hides.”

Supplements: fruiting body vs mycelium on grain

Many “mushroom” supplements are actually mycelium grown on grain, leaving customers with up to 70 % starch and far fewer beta-glucans. Fruiting body extracts can contain up to 10× more active compounds. That’s why we focus on whole fruiting bodies at Eversio Wellness—no unwanted grain, just potent mushrooms.

Threats & How to Protect the Underground Highway

These resilient networks face real danger from modern life. Heavy machinery and off-trail foot traffic compact soil, snapping delicate hyphae in seconds. Fungicides and synthetic fertilizers disrupt age-old plant–fungus partnerships, while clear-cutting strips away both food and habitat. Rapid climate shifts add heat and drought stress that fungi can’t always outrun.

Practical ways to support mycelium

• Leave logs, leaves, and branches where they fall—organic matter is fungal fuel.
• Accept no-till or low-till gardening and mulching to protect underground structure.
• Reduce synthetic chemicals; build soil fertility with compost instead.
• Plant diverse, preferably native, species that form strong mycorrhizal ties.
• Stick to marked trails when hiking to avoid crushing hidden networks.

Restoring networks with mindful land care

Fungal inoculation, wood-chip mulches, and polyculture plantings can jump-start damaged soils. Community forest-garden projects and long-term monitoring—looking for returning mushroom diversity—help ensure the underground highway stays open for generations.

Integrating Functional Mushrooms into Your Wellness Routine

Understanding the incredible world of mycelium naturally leads to questions about how we can harness these benefits for our own health and wellness. At Eversio Wellness, we've dedicated ourselves to creating supplements that capture the concentrated power of mushroom fruiting bodies, bringing the wisdom of these ancient networks into modern wellness routines.

Our approach focuses on the fruiting bodies—the reproductive structures that contain the highest concentrations of bioactive compounds. Through our dual extraction process, we capture both water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds, ensuring maximum bioavailability and potency. This method honors the traditional preparation techniques used for centuries while meeting modern quality standards.

Each of our supplements is USDA Organic Certified and grown Dì Dào—in the mushrooms' native homeland where they develop their intended spiritual energy and potency. This traditional concept recognizes that mushrooms grown in their preferred environment, with the right atmospheric energy, pressure, and altitude, deliver superior benefits to the body.

Our product line includes carefully selected mushroom species, each chosen for specific wellness benefits:

Chill Now - Organic Reishi 15:1 Dual Extract Capsules - Known as the "mushroom of immortality," Reishi supports stress response and promotes restful sleep. Our 15:1 extract provides concentrated triterpenes and beta-glucans in convenient capsule form.

Focus Now - Organic Lion's Mane 8:1 Dual Extract Capsules - This unique mushroom supports cognitive function and nerve health. Our extract captures the hericenones and erinacines that make Lion's Mane special for brain wellness.

Protect Now - Organic Chaga 8:1 Dual Extract Capsules - With the highest ORAC (antioxidant) value of any superfood, Chaga supports immune function and overall vitality. Our extract concentrates the melanin and betulinic acid that give Chaga its protective properties.

Defend Now - Organic Turkey Tail 12:1 Extract Capsules - Rich in polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharide-peptide (PSP), Turkey Tail has been extensively studied for immune support. Our 12:1 extract provides concentrated beta-glucans in therapeutic potencies.

Energize Now - Organic Cordyceps 8:1 Extract Capsules - This adaptogenic mushroom supports energy and athletic performance. Our extract captures the cordycepin and adenosine that make Cordyceps valuable for vitality and endurance.

When you choose Eversio Wellness, you're not just getting a supplement—you're connecting with the ancient wisdom of mycelial networks and supporting sustainable, ethical practices that honor both human health and planetary wellness.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mycelium

Is it safe to consume mycelium supplements alongside medications?

What is mycelium in supplement form can be generally well-tolerated, but it's always wise to chat with your healthcare provider before adding any new supplements to your routine—especially if you're taking medications. Some functional mushrooms might interact with certain medications, particularly blood thinners or immunosuppressive drugs.

If you have an autoimmune condition, you'll want to be extra careful since some mushrooms can naturally stimulate immune function. For expecting and nursing mothers, it's best to check with your healthcare provider first, as safety data for these special populations is still limited.

Your healthcare team knows your unique situation best. They can help you make informed decisions about incorporating mushroom supplements into your wellness routine safely.

Can mycelial networks really "communicate" like brains?

The underground world of mycelium is absolutely fascinating! Recent research has shown that mycelial networks can indeed transmit electrical impulses and chemical signals through their thread-like connections, which does resemble some aspects of how neurons communicate. It's like nature's own internet system.

However, this doesn't mean fungi have consciousness or intelligence the way we understand it. These networks can share resources between plants, coordinate responses to threats, and even show memory-like behaviors—but they lack the complex brain structures we associate with true thinking.

Think of it more as sophisticated chemical and electrical signaling that allows coordinated responses across the entire network. It's nature's way of creating a communication system that's been working perfectly for millions of years, long before humans developed our own technologies.

What are the main environmental threats to mycelium?

Unfortunately, these incredible underground networks face serious challenges from human activities. Soil compaction from heavy machinery and even foot traffic can physically break those delicate hyphal connections that took years to establish. When you step off a designated trail, you might be breaking connections in this living network beneath your feet.

Chemical inputs like synthetic fertilizers and fungicides directly harm fungal communities, ironically disrupting the natural partnerships that plants have relied on for millions of years. Clear-cutting and intensive agriculture remove the organic matter these networks feed on while destroying the soil structure they need to thrive.

Climate change adds another layer of stress through altered rainfall patterns, temperature extremes, and increased disturbances. While mycelial networks are remarkably adaptable, the rapid pace of current environmental changes can exceed their ability to adjust.

The good news? Understanding what is mycelium and how these networks function helps us make better choices. Simple actions like leaving deadwood in place, reducing chemical inputs, and staying on trails can make a real difference in protecting these vital underground highways.

Harness the Power of Mushrooms—The Future is Fungi, and It Starts with You!

The incredible journey through what is mycelium reveals nature's most sophisticated network—a billion-year-old system that quietly sustains all life on Earth. From microscopic threads weaving through soil to massive networks spanning thousands of acres, mycelium shows us the profound power of connection, cooperation, and quiet resilience.

As we stand at the crossroads of environmental challenges and health crises, these ancient fungal networks offer both inspiration and practical solutions. They're already cleaning polluted soils, creating sustainable materials that could replace harmful plastics, and supporting ecosystem health in ways we're only beginning to understand. Most remarkably, they remind us that the most powerful systems often work invisibly, supporting life through connections we can't see but absolutely depend on.

Understanding mycelium transforms how we see the world around us. Every step you take is supported by these underground highways. Every plant in your garden is likely connected to a vast fungal web sharing resources and information. Every breath you take is possible because of the nutrient cycling these remarkable systems provide.

The future of both planetary and personal health may well depend on learning to work with these networks rather than against them. From biodegradable packaging that dissolves harmlessly back into soil to concentrated mushroom supplements that support your daily wellness, fungi offer solutions that are both ancient wisdom and cutting-edge innovation.

This is where the magic happens in your own life. When you choose functional mushroom supplements, you're not just supporting your personal vitality—you're connecting with the same biological intelligence that has sustained forests, cleaned ecosystems, and supported life for over a billion years. You're tapping into nature's most sophisticated support system.

At Eversio Wellness, we're honored to bridge this gap between ancient fungal wisdom and modern wellness needs. Our concentrated fruiting body extracts bring the power of these remarkable networks directly to your daily routine. Each capsule contains the bioactive compounds that fungi have perfected over millions of years of evolution.

The secret life of fungi isn't really secret anymore—it's an invitation. An invitation to support your health with the same intelligence that supports entire ecosystems. An invitation to choose supplements that honor both your body and the planet that sustains us all.

Ready to experience the transformative power of functional mushrooms? Find our complete range of organic mushroom supplements and begin your journey toward optimal wellness today. The wisdom of mycelial networks is waiting to support your health, one carefully crafted capsule at a time.