Mushrooms are to become the meat of vegetarians. They are known to recycle organic matter of all sorts. Some even dissolve minerals. Many are carnivores. In particular, they feed on small worms called nematodes.
Each species has its own hunting technique: oyster mushrooms, for example, stretch out toxic filaments (hyphae), paralysing their prey before absorbing the nutrients. Other species use lasso trapping (read Merlin Sheldrake's stimulating Entangled Life).
Here's a conversation overheard between two compatible mushrooms in a woodland:
‘I don't think I've met you before. Is this your first time here? ’
‘No, I'm praticing my spores just around the corner’.
‘Do you live with your parents? ’
‘Not far, but they split up when I was born’.
‘I like your perfume ’
‘It's floral from Myco & co ’
‘ Would you accept an invitation to a worm diner? ’
