Fairy ring

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For the article dedicated to the southwestafrican phenomenon of fairy circles, see here.

"Come now, a roundel and a fairy song." One of Arthur Rackham's illustrations to William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. [1]

A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. The rings may grow over ten meters in diameter and become stable over time as the fungus grows and seeks food underground. They are found mainly in forested areas, but also appear in the grasslands and/or rangelands. Fairy rings are not only detectable by sporocarps in rings or arcs, but also by a necrotic zone (death grass) or a ring of dark green grass. If these manifestations are visible a fairy fungus mycelia is likely present in the ring or arc underneath.

1 Genesis
2 Necrotic zone
3 Types
4 Fairy rings in folktales and mythology
5 Gallery
6 External links

[edit] Genesis

There are two theories regarding the process involved in creating fairy rings. One states that fairy ring is begun by a spore from the sporocarpus. Initially the spore lands on suitable ground, and as it starts to grow underground it pushes out mycelium (fungal threads) in all directions. As the mass of mycelium grows the central part dies off, leaving a disc of mycelium growing at the outer edge. Eventually, when season and weather allow, mushrooms are produced above the mycelium and release spores. Sometimes, several years may go by before mushrooms appear around a fairy ring. The underground presence of the fungus can also cause withering or varying colour or growth of the grass above.

The second theory, which is presented in the investigations of Japanese scientists on the tricholoma matsutake species, shows that fairy rings could be established by connecting neighbouring oval genets of these mushrooms. If they make an arc or a ring, they continuously grow about the center of this object.

It is said that there are about 40-60 mushroom species which can grow in the fairy ring pattern. The best known is the edible Scotch bonnet (Marasmius oreades), which is commonly known as a "fairy ring mushroom".

[edit] Necrotic zone

One of the three manifestations is a necrotic zone, or area in which grass or other plant life has withered or died. These are caused by the mycelia, which during a very dry year coat the roots of grasses and other herbs in meadows. After some time they are removed by biotic factors from the ground, at which stage we can see a zone on the surface soil. Patterns other than the basic ring or arc are also possible: circles, doubled arcs, sickle-shaped arcs, and other complicated formations are also formed by this process.

[edit] Types

There are two generally recognised types of fairy ring fungus. That found in the woods is called theaterd, due to the fact that they are formed by mykorrhizal fungi living in comensalism with tress. Meadow fairy rings are called free, bacause they are not connected with other organizms. These mushrooms are saprofitic.

[edit] Fairy rings in folktales and mythology

In English folklore, fairy rings were said to be caused by fairies or pixies dancing in a circle, wearing down the grass beneath their feet. Toads would then sit on the mushrooms, poisoning them; hence the name toadstool.

In Scandinavian folklore, these circles were attributed to the elves and were called älvdanser, i.e. elf dances.

In German-speaking Europe, fairy rings are known as Hexenringe, or "witches rings", stemming from an old mediaeval belief that the rings represented places where witches would have their gatherings.

Similar myths to those in German folklore can be found in Czech, Slovack, Polish and even Russian folk tales. In the Czech language they are called čarodějné kruhy, as they are thought to have been caused by a dragons having a rest at those places.

Another myth states that fairy rings are doors into the fairies' world, transporting people to other places or making people appear in the same place in a different time. Young ladies are also warned not to touch dew situated on the grass within the ring, due to the belief that it can cause skin problems.