fungi · GBIF taxon 2537250
Fairy Ring Mushroom
Marasmius oreadesAlso known as Fairy Ring Champignon, Scotch Bonnet, Mousseron
Fairy ring mushrooms sprout in lush, grassy lawns and meadows, forming expanding circles or arcs as their underground mycelium grows outward. Their pale tan or buff caps feature a central bump and widely spaced gills, supported by remarkably tough, pliable stems that resist snapping. These saprobic fungi play a vital role in decomposing organic matter in turf, often leaving a ring of dark green, fast-growing grass in their wake.
FungusGrasslandDecomposer
- diet
- Saprobic (decomposes organic matter)
- family
- Marasmiaceae
- threats
- Lawn mowing, chemical fungicides, habitat loss
- life Span
- Mycelium can live for centuries; individual mushrooms last a few days
NE
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Spore Print: Take a white spore print to help distinguish it from dark-spored look-alikes.
- Stem Test: Gently twist the stem to feel its characteristic toughness and pliability.
- Observe the Ring: Look for the dark green ring of grass stimulated by the underground mycelium.