Stats

Lifespan

Decades

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Subtropical forest

Range

The Americas

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

This fungus grows in bright circular patches on dead wood in tropical forests. It produces a vivid red pigment that forms a distinct ring around its aging center.

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

Ascomycota

Class

Arthoniomycetes

Order

Arthoniales

Family

Arthoniaceae

Genus

Herpothallon

Species

Herpothallon rubrocinctum