this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2023
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Mycology

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Quite new to foraging, how come these mushrooms grow in a circle?

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[–] [email protected] 115 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I'm no expert but these are called Fairy Circles iirc. Apparently whatever substrate they grow on is consumed, so they expand in a circular fashion- think of burning a paper starting from a point in its center.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That’s my understanding too, the substrate often being a root ball from a long gone tree

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

They are there to remind you what trees grew up to before we started "managing" forests

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago

Very interesting, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 77 points 2 years ago

Fairies, whatever you do be careful, the small folk can be tricky.

Science: the fungus starts in the middle and consumes resources moving outward until it gets enough resources that it can form mushrooms.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You should stand in the middle of it and see where it takes you.

But, they are Fariy Rings, so don't be surprised if wherever they take you gets you into some fucked up situations.

Them Fae folk like messing with humans, in some of the most gruesome ways.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

Hahaha this made me laugh a lot 😊

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

As long as they don't have a Dramen or a Lunar staff equipped, it'll make them feel a bit funny for a second but it won't transport them anywhere.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

One letter off, and you're in the middle of nowhere.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 years ago

Mushroom funco grow in a circular pattern under the ground. The entire area inside the circle is the fungus. The fungus fruits at its edges.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I do hope OP hasn't been taken by the fae.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

Alive, yes... but...

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious, and I wouldn't step into that circle.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

Mycostitious

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Semistitious?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Fairy circles are common just due to how mushrooms reproduce through releasing spores.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

I feel like I see your name in so many communities I am in ahah πŸ˜…

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

Faeries wear boots and you gotta believe me!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

We call it a witch circle... legend has that when schrooms grow like that a witch danced that night at the center.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

It is clearly how you travel to the Faedoheim.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

The spirit of that forest was killed there.