Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fairy Rings
Several species of mushrooms growing in circles
in lawns and golf greens cause a condition known
as fairy ring, rather common when the soil is quite
moist and contains a superabundance of organic
matter. Less commonly, some of these mush-
rooms are responsible for a poor condition of
other herbaceous plants and of roses. The chief
symptom in turf is the appearance of continuous
or interrupted bands of darker green, due to the
fungus mycelium breaking down organic matter
into products easily assimilated by grass roots.
Following the zone of stimulated growth there
may be a zone of dying grass due to temporary
exhaustion of nutrients, or to toxic substances
from the mushroom mycelium, or because
a layer has developed that is rather impervious
to water. The green rings are more conspicuous
on underfertilized lawns, and their presence can
sometimes be masked by adequate fertilization.
Breaking off the mushrooms, possibly spiking the
sod, is all the control ordinarily recommended.
The following species are merely representative
of the Basidiomycetes found in fairy rings. They are
in the order Agaricales, family Agaricaceae.
Cyathus stercoreus
2 to 12 inches across, white with scattered brown
scales; flesh white; gills green when mature,
spores green turning yellow, stem bulbous at
base with a large ring (annulus). Poisonous,
though other members of this genus, also causing
fairy rings, are edible.
Marasmius oreades Cap 2 inches or less,
convex to plane, thin, tough, withering but not
decaying; gills free from stem; spores white.
Edible.
Psalliota (
Agaricus
) campestris Cap 1 1/2 to
3 inches; white, silky, nearly flat; flesh white to
pinkish; gills pink, then brown; spores brownish
purple; stem white, with a ring when young.
Edible.
Other Basidiomycetes found on lawns in moist
weather include puffballs, which are very good
eating when white and firm inside, and bird's nest
fungi, which are tiny cups filled with “seed,”
resembling a nest of eggs.
Trechispora
Basidiomycetes, Aphyllophorales
(Bird's Nest Fungus)
Fairy Ring
on turf.
Lepiota morgani On turf and also in rose
greenhouses, causing poor growth. The caps are
Trechispora alnicola
Blight
,
Fairy Ring
of
Kentucky bluegrass.
