MushieFairy ring champignon (Marasmius oreades)
Edible with caution
The fairy ring champignon is a small tan mushroom that grows in rings on grass. Its tough, wiry stem and widely spaced gills separate it from toxic lookalikes.
| Scientific name | Marasmius oreades |
|---|---|
| Other names | Nelkenschwindling · Faux mousseron · Gambesecche |
| Family | Marasmiaceae |
| Season | May – Nov |
| Habitat | Lawns and pastures, usually in rings or arcs |
| Range | Europe, North America and parts of Asia |
| Spore print | White |
| Smell | Pleasant, almond-like |
How to identify Fairy ring champignon
| Cap | Buff to tan, 2–5 cm, with a raised central bump, drying paler |
|---|---|
| Underside | Widely spaced, pale cream gills not attached to the stem |
| Stem | Tough, wiry, slender, same colour as cap; can be bent without snapping |
| Smell | Pleasant, almond-like |
| Spore print | White |
Is Fairy ring champignon edible or poisonous?
Edible with caution. Edible (caps only) when correctly identified, cooked and picked from untreated, uncontaminated grass. Easily confused with poisonous Clitocybe species growing in the same grass.
Fairy ring champignon look-alikes
Fool's funnel (Clitocybe rivulosa) also grows in grass rings and is poisonous.
When does Fairy ring champignon grow?
Fairy ring champignon is typically found May – Nov in lawns and pastures, usually in rings or arcs. See other mushrooms in season:
Frequently asked questions
Is Fairy ring champignon edible?
Fairy ring champignon (Marasmius oreades) is regarded as edible only with caution. Edible (caps only) when correctly identified, cooked and picked from untreated, uncontaminated grass. Easily confused with poisonous Clitocybe species growing in the same grass. Never eat a wild mushroom based on an app or a website. Confirm identification and edibility in person with a qualified local expert.
What does Fairy ring champignon look like?
Buff to tan, 2–5 cm, with a raised central bump, drying paler. Underside: widely spaced, pale cream gills not attached to the stem. Stem: tough, wiry, slender, same colour as cap; can be bent without snapping.
What are the look-alikes of Fairy ring champignon?
The main look-alike is Fool's funnel (Clitocybe rivulosa). Fool's funnel (Clitocybe rivulosa) also grows in grass rings and is poisonous.
When and where does Fairy ring champignon grow?
Fairy ring champignon is usually found from May to Nov. Habitat: lawns and pastures, usually in rings or arcs. Range: Europe, North America and parts of Asia.
Found something like fairy ring champignon?
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Related species
Sources and credits: written from standard field-guide references. Further reading: Wikipedia: Marasmius oreades. Last updated 2026-10-22. Editorial policy.