Toxic mushrooms

Many mushroom species producesecondary metabolitesthat can be toxic, mindaltering, antibiotic, antiviral, orbioluminescent. Although there are only a small number ofdeadly species, several others can cause particularly severe and unpleasant symptoms. Toxicity likely plays a role in protecting the function of the basidiocarp: the mycelium has expended considerable energy and protoplasmic material to develop a structure to efficiently distribute its spores. One defense against consumption and premature destruction is the evolution of chemicals that render the mushroom inedible, either causing the consumer to vomit the meal (seeemetics), or to learn to avoid consumption altogether.