Fairy Ring Marasmius

Marasmius oreades, otherwise known as the "fairy ring fungus" is the name given to mushrooms that grow in lush circles in various different species of grass (Couch, 1995). These fungi either grow above the surface on lawns/golf courses or below the surface, denoted by circles of dead-looking grass. These fungi break down organic matter below the surface and release ammonia, the microorganisms present in soil then 'fix' this ammonia into nitrates, and this nitrogen release is responsible for the green rings seen in the grass (Vargas, 1994).

Posted on October 18, 2021 04:06 PM by sarah_cairns