1. Cap: the top part of the mushroom that grows upward. When fully grown, mushroom caps will spread out like
an umbrella, e.g. the Straw Mushroom, Champignon Mushrooms, etc. Caps of some mushrooms (like the
Phoenix Oyster Mushroom, Oyster Mushroom, Abalone Mushroom) are more flat and may be indented in the
middle.
2. Gills: the underside of the mushroom cap that has thin sheets connecting in a row around the stalk, and
extends upward to the tip of the mushroom cap. The gills of some mushrooms are connected tightly to the stalks,
some have pores, and others have teeth.
3. Stalk or Stipe: Stalks of each type of mushroom are different in size and length. Normally, stalks are
cylindrical. The bottom part of the stalk is big and gets slimmer as it nears the top. The top part of the stalk joins
the cap or gills. The skin outside the stalk of some mushrooms is rough while some are scaled like nets
(Reticulum). Inside the stalk some mushrooms are loosely woven with fiber similar to sponges, while others are
bound together tightly. This makes the stalk hard, soft or crispy; the texture varying according to the type of
mushroom.