How to identify Fairy Ring Mushroom

To correctly identify Fairy Ring Mushroom (Fairy Ring Mushroom), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   Convex to flat with a central umbo; light brown to tan, fading to pale buff when dry.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   Broad, widely spaced, and free from the stem.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   Very tough, fibrous, and smooth; same color as the cap.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   Thin, white, and resistant to decay.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   Small, tough mushroom with a cap 2-5 cm wide.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Found in lawns, pastures, and grassy areas.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Smooth, glabrous

Growth Form

Cespitose or scattered in rings

Spore Print

White

Body color

Tan to cream

Odor

Mildly nutty/fungal

Flesh bruises

Does not change color

Height

4-8 cm

Cap Diameter

2-5 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Free or narrowly adnate
• Stem shape: Cylindrical
• Stem surface: Smooth, tough, velvety
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Solid

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