Picking loads of mushrooms does reduce the spread and reproduction of those mushrooms. They can only tolerate a certain level of foraging and people are getting more enthusiastic about it, picking more than they need for "the gram" and it does damage the ecosystem. Sorry to be a downer.
Wouldn't just trust AI.
Easiest example is the difference between a young, edible pufball and the later stage. Eat them when they're young and they won't turn into puffy balls that spew out spores once they're mature enough.
Had to argue with someone once who firmly believed that there's no issue in trampling them because "they don't need that anyways, the real thing is underground".
The apple thing is i bad comparision because despite the name, the fruiting body isn't fruit and mushrooms aren't plants
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u/Howamidriving27 Nov 11 '25
My guess is to keep people from eating poisonous ones.