Stats

Lifespan

A few weeks

Size

Small

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Warning Colors

Status

Uncommon

About

This bright red fungus grows near the roots of hardwood trees in eastern forests. It absorbs canthaxanthin to turn its entire body a vivid shade of cinnabar.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   spore

   A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
2. 2.
   mycelium

   A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
3. 3.
   fruiting body

   A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Basidiomycota

Class

Agaricomycetes

Order

Cantharellales

Family

Hydnaceae

Genus

Cantharellus

Species

Cantharellus cinnabarinus