Stats

Lifespan

Up to 100 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Temperate grassland

Range

Northern Hemisphere

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Toxins

Status

Common

About

This fungus grows in grassy meadows and forms perfect circles on the ground. Its underground threads release nitrogen that makes the grass inside the ring grow taller.

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

Marasmiaceae

Genus

Marasmius

Species

Marasmius oreades