Fungi journal entry: fairy ring mushrooms
The fairy ring mushroom is a mushroom that is native to North America and Europe. Its scientific name is Marasmius oreades. It is called the fairy ring mushroom because of an old folk tale in which people believed that mushrooms growing in a circle follow a path made by fairies dancing in a ring. This mushroom secretes chemicals into the ground ahead, which then decompose organic matter, turning it into nutrients. These nutrients will serve as food for the mushroom as well as benefit the surrounding grass by making it darker, taller and thicker.
