Fauna
Fungus

Fairy Ring Marasmius

Marasmius oreades

Also known as Fairy Ring Mushroom, Fairy Ring Champignon, Scotch Bonnet

Fairy ring marasmius emerges in lush, expanding circular formations across grassy meadows and suburban lawns following summer and autumn rains. These small, tan-to-buff mushrooms possess remarkable desiccation tolerance, shriveling during dry spells and fully reviving after rain. The subterranean fungal network releases nutrients as it spreads outward, often creating a ring of dark, fast-growing grass directly above the active growth front.

FungusGrasslandRing-Forming
Fairy Ring Marasmius reference1 / 7
(c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySaprotrophic (decomposes dead grass roots and soil organic matter)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus Gnats
  • Nematodes
ThreatsFungicide application, intensive lawn cultivation, and turf removal
HabitatsLawns, pastures, grassy meadows, and parklands
Life spanPerennial underground mycelium (decades); individual caps last several days
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyMarasmiaceae
  3. GenusMarasmius
  4. SpeciesMarasmius oreades
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Observe Habitat: Look for distinct arcs or lush green circular rings in lawns and pastures after rain.
  • Examine Gills: Inspect the wide-spaced, cream-colored gills that remain free or barely attached to the stem.
  • Test Stem Pliability: Flex the stem gently to note its tough, flexible nature that resists snapping.
Related species
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