Stats

Lifespan

A few weeks

Size

Medium

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

Northern Hemisphere

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

This fungus grows in dense, crowded clusters on patches of disturbed soil. It pushes through hard earth with enough force to crack pavement during its growth.

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

Agaricales

Family

Lyophyllaceae

Genus

Lyophyllum

Species

Lyophyllum decastes