727 articles
Lycoperdaceae
Lycoperdaceae, the true puffball family (Agaricales), includes Lycoperdon, Bovista, Calvatia, and Disciseda; angiocarpic fruit bodies, about 430 species, taxonomic status debated versus Agaricaceae.
Lyophyllaceae
Lyophyllaceae is a family of Agaricales mushrooms (Basidiomycota, suborder Tricholomatineae) established by Julich in 1982, typified by Lyophyllum, marked by siderophilous basidial granules, and spanning saprotrophic, parasitic, termite-symbiotic, and ectomycorrhizal species.
Lyophyllum decastes
Lyophyllum decastes, the fried chicken mushroom or Clustered Domecap, is a clustered, grey-capped edible agaric in Lyophyllaceae, saprophytic on buried wood, center of a taxonomically difficult species complex with L. shimeji, L. fumosum, and L. loricatum.
Lysergic acid
Lysergic acid is an ergoline alkaloid forming the shared core of ergot alkaloids of the fungus Claviceps purpurea, with 10,000 to 15,000 kg produced annually and serving as the precursor of LSD.
M-factor
M-factor is the farnesylated, carboxyl-methylated nonapeptide mating pheromone of fission yeast M cells, encoded by mfm1-3, secreted via Mam1, and sensed by the Map3 receptor on P-cells.
Macrolepiota procera
Macrolepiota procera, the parasol mushroom, is a large edible Agaricaceae fungus with a 10–25 cm scaly cap, movable double ring, snakeskin stipe, and white spore print; its main toxic look-alike is Chlorophyllum molybdites.
Magnaporthe
Magnaporthe, a polyphyletic ascomycete genus (Magnaporthales) proposed for suppression in favor of Pyricularia; its species M. oryzae causes rice blast using turgor-driven appressoria reaching about 80 bars.
Magnaporthe grisea
Magnaporthe grisea, also known as Pyricularia grisea or Pyricularia oryzae, is a fungus that attacks grasses, including rice, wheat, and barley, and causes rice blast, which prevents maturation of the rice grains.
Malassezia
Malassezia (formerly Pityrosporum) is a genus of 18 lipid-dependent basidiomycetous yeast species colonizing human and animal skin; commensal yet implicated in pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, folliculitis, and rare invasive infection.
Marasmiaceae
Marasmiaceae (Roze ex Kühner) is a family of saprotrophic agaric fungi in Agaricales, Basidiomycota, with about 54 genera and 1,590 species; type genus Marasmius, including cacao pathogens Moniliophthora.
Marasmius
Marasmius, genus of small saprotrophic gilled mushrooms (Marasmiaceae, Agaricales) established by Fries in 1835, type M. rotula; over 700 litter-decomposing species worldwide, including edible M. oreades and crop pathogen M. palmivorus.
Marine lichens of seashores
Marine lichens of seashores are lichenized fungi that live on coastal rocks from salt-spray cliffs into the intertidal zone, with about 700 species worldwide arranged in distinct vertical belts.
Marmite
Marmite is a dark, thick British yeast extract spread made from brewer's yeast, launched in 1902 in Burton-on-Trent and now a Unilever brand. Distinct from New Zealand Marmite and Vegemite; famous for its love-it-or-hate-it taste and B-vitamin content.
Marmite (New Zealand)
Marmite (New Zealand), or Kiwi Marmite, is Sanitarium's sweeter, stickier yeast-extract spread, made locally since 1944, distinct from UK Marmite and Vegemite; famous for the 2012-13 'Marmageddon' shortage after the Christchurch earthquake.
Matsutake (松茸)
Matsutake (松茸), Tricholoma matsutake, is a prized wild ectomycorrhizal pine mushroom of Eurasia; it forms shiros, cannot yet be farmed, and Japanese production has fallen over 90% in 50 years.
Melanoleuca
Melanoleuca (cavalier toadstools) is a worldwide genus of brownish, white-spored agaric fungi with amyloid warted spores, formerly in Tricholomataceae but molecularly placed near Pluteaceae; two subgenera, Urticocystis and Melanoleuca, with difficult species identification.
Melanoleuca melaleuca
Melanoleuca melaleuca, the type species of the cavalier mushroom genus Melanoleuca (Tricholomataceae), a grey-brown grassland agaric; basionym Agaricus melaleucus Pers. 1801, separated from M. polioleuca only microscopically.
Merlin Sheldrake
Merlin Sheldrake, British biologist and author of Entangled Life (2020), studies underground fungal networks; Cambridge Ph.D. in tropical ecology, SPUN Chief Impact Officer, 2025 Climate Breakthrough Award winner.
Metarhizium
Metarhizium is a genus of Clavicipitaceae fungi that kill insects via cuticle penetration and also act as plant root symbionts. Key species include M. anisopliae and M. acridum, used widely in mycoinsecticides for pest and tick control.
Methylergometrine
Methylergometrine (methylergonovine, Methergine) is a semisynthetic ergot alkaloid uterotonic, 0.2 mg IM/IV, used for postpartum uterine atony and hemorrhage; WHO no longer recommends it for PPH prevention because it raises blood pressure.
Metschnikowia
Metschnikowia, genus of ascomycetous budding yeasts (family Metschnikowiaceae, ~81 species) named by Kamiénski; species M. pulcherrima and M. fructicola are used as biocontrol agents and wine bio-protection yeasts via pulcherrimin iron depletion.
Microbotryomycetes
Microbotryomycetes is a class of Basidiomycota fungi in Pucciniomycotina, proposed by Bauer et al. 2006, with orders Microbotryales, Sporidiobolales, Leucosporidiales, and Heterogastridiales, including anther-smut Microbotryum and yeasts.
Microsporidia
Microsporidia: a phylum of unicellular obligate intracellular fungal-related parasites with resistant 1–4 µm spores and a unique ejectable polar tube; over 1,400 species, at least 15 infect humans, most commonly Enterocytozoon bieneusi.
Microsporum
Microsporum is a dermatophyte fungus genus in Arthrodermataceae causing skin and hair ringworm; since 2017 restricted to about three species around M. canis, the cat- and dog-associated agent of tinea capitis.
Milk-cap morphology and latex chemistry
Milk-cap mushrooms, chiefly the genera Lactarius and Lactifluus, are defined by the milky latex that exudes from cut flesh, and share a brittle texture with Russula.
Mold
Mold (mould): filamentous fungi forming hyphae and mycelium, reproducing by spores; not a taxonomic group. Covers indoor genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium), health effects, mycotoxins, food uses, and remediation guidance.
Molecular-era lichen taxonomy (2001–present)
Molecular-era lichen taxonomy is the reshaping of lichen classification by DNA sequence data since 2001, showing that genera defined by morphology often do not match evolutionary trees.
Monascus
Monascus is a genus of Aspergillaceae fungi (red yeast rice, ang-kak) used in Asian fermented foods; species produce azaphilone pigments, monacolin K, and the mycotoxin citrinin, and are classified in sections Floridani and Rubri.
Monilinia fructicola
Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey, also Sclerotinia fructicola, is a Sclerotiniaceae ascomycete causing brown rot and blossom blight of stone and pome fruit; type species of Monilinia, an EPPO A2 quarantine pest.
Morchella
Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of ascomycete fungi in Pezizales prized as edible spring mushrooms. About 72–78 phylogenetic species in Esculenta (yellow) and Elata (black) clades; East Asia is the diversity center; commercial cultivation achieved mainly in China.