Magical Fungi

Magical fungi are a diverse category of spore-bearing organisms, similar to their non-magical counterparts but possessing a wide range of magical properties. They are a key component in the wizarding world, primarily utilized as ingredients in Potions and studied within the subject of Herbology at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. These fungi vary greatly in appearance, properties, and rarity, from common types that can be foraged to exceptionally rare specimens prized by expert Potion-makers. Their effects can range from kinetic (causing objects to bounce) to potentially potent and dangerous, requiring careful identification.

While many fungi are likely used in the wizarding world, only a few are specifically named or described in the novels.

• Bouncing Mushroom: Mentioned by Hermione Granger while she, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley were on the run and foraging for food. Hermione was attempting to identify edible mushrooms using the book Toadstools of the Continents and explicitly distinguished between a deadly Death Cap and a Bouncing Mushroom, implying the latter is a known magical species. Ron's fearful reaction suggests they may be difficult to handle or have unpredictable effects. The name indicates that these fungi possess properties of animation or levitation, causing them to bounce.
• Leaping Toadstool: A type of magical fungus known to leap when startled. (Pottermore) It is possible that this is another name for, or a close relative of, the Bouncing Mushroom.
• Unusually Rare Blackish Mushrooms: A jar of these fungi was seen in the office of Potions Master Horace Slughorn. Described as shrivelled and blackish, Slughorn considered them a very valuable and rare gift, intending to give them to Albus Dumbledore. Their specific use is unknown, but their rarity and Slughorn's estimation of their value suggest they are a powerful Potion ingredient.

The use of fungi as a general category of ingredient is frequently implied throughout the series.

• In his first Potions lesson, Professor Snape refers to the art of potion-making as a science involving the bewitching of the mind and the ensnaring of the senses, with ingredients sourced from a variety of magical plants and fungi.
• When Harry Potter cleans out Severus Snape's private storeroom in the dungeons as a detention, he handles many potion ingredients, including jars containing “slimy, shriveled things” that could have been various types of fungi.
• The curriculum of Herbology, taught by Professor Sprout, would almost certainly include the study, cultivation, and handling of magical fungi alongside plants, especially those that are dangerous or useful in Potions.

• While on the run in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione Granger consults a book titled Toadstools of the Continents to identify fungi, indicating that a significant body of magical mycological research exists.
• In various Harry Potter video games, generic ingredients such as “Mushroom Powder” or “Fungus” are often required for brewing different potions, reinforcing their role as a staple Potion ingredient. (video game)