Mushroom

[cornishwoman]

I know they are not edible,but ain't they cute,little fairy fungi

[trixtrax]

Hey cornishwoman, the mushroom that you have in your pot ilooks like Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, commonly found growing indoors on soil medium from potted plants. It is actually a tropical mushroom, from S America I do believe. I have had this mushroom on many of my indoor plants and have intentionally moved the spawn around to other potted plants. I have sometimes seen a pot completely blow up with fuzzy yellow spawn and primordia (baby mushrooms) on the surface. It is a relative of the Inky Caps, which include the delicious Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatatus) though these are probably slightly poisonous. These mushrooms likely play a similar role to Inky caps in that they are "first responder" fungi to ecosystem disturbance making the way for more diverse microfauna including other mushrooms. Next year you may see other fungi species fruiting out of your jade tree pot.

If I was a fairy, I'd sit on the mushroom top, not a bad view under a jade tree and all.


www.mushroomexpert.com/leucocoprinus_birnbaumii.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucocoprinus_birnbaumii

[cornishwoman]

thanks for the info trix, they were really cutie,haven't seen any in any other pots,hope they do come back.

[trixtrax]

Yeah I hope they do too. This is one of those organisms, were I just watch it and swear I'm hearing it quietly cheer "Weeeeee". I have found this mushroom likes fresh bagged plant mix soil, so maybe try to keep it going by placing mycellium in some new bagged soil? Another benefit of this mushroom, is that it occupies the same niche as molds, so it tends to lower molds in your indoor pots, which in my wet temperate spot can be a problem.

[trixtrax]

Hey Cornishwoman, now that you spoke of it the mushrooms have come back again in my Salvia. I am a happy man.