a mushroom (also called a toadstool) is the part of a fungus that is comparable to the fruit of a plant. unlike plants, mushrooms do not use sunlight to generate energy for themselves. some mushrooms are edible, and are used for cooking in many countries, such as china, korea and europe. other mushrooms, however, are poisonous, and can cause severe illness or death if eaten. people who search for edible mushrooms are called "mycophagists", meaning "mushroom eater", while the act itself is called "mushrooming". mushrooms have been known to support bone health and to regulate blood sugar in diabetics. it is available in different colours and shapes.