Crustlike cups of doughnut fungus (pine firefungus, Rhizina undulata mushrooms) near Dibuny, north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 24, 2016Synonyms: Helvella acaulis, Helvella inflata, Rhizina inflata, Rhizina laevigata, Rhizina praetexta.
Common name: pine firefungus.
Russian names: Rizina volnistaya, Volnistyy koren, Rizina.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Rhizina undulata, commonly known as the doughnut fungus or the pine firefungus, is a species of fungus in the family Rhizinaceae. The fruit bodies of the fungus are dark purple brown with a bright yellow margin, crust-like and attached to the growing surface by numerous root-like yellow rhizoids. R. undulata has a cosmopolitan distribution, and commonly occurs on clearings or burned areas throughout central and northern Europe, North America, northern Asia, and southern Africa. It is parasitic on conifer seedlings, and has caused considerable damage to tree plantations worldwide.
Rhizina undulata is a fungus that grows in association with burnt soil, typically appearing after forest fires. In St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, and north-western Russia, it has been found to fruit in areas with recent fire history, often in coniferous forests dominated by Pinus sylvestris. The fungus produces distinctive undulate caps that are brown to black in color, reaching diameters of up to 10 cm. It is considered a pioneer species, playing a role in the initial stages of ecosystem recovery after fires.
Crustlike cups of doughnut fungus (pine firefungus, Rhizina undulata mushrooms) near Dibuny, north-west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 24, 2016
Pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) near burnt ground near Dibuny, north-west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 6, 2017
Pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) in area of Lembolovo - Orekhovo, 35 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 8, 2017
Unnamed Road, Vaskelovo, Leningradskaya oblast', Russia, 188731
Young pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) in area of Kavgolovskoe Lake near Oselki - Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 9, 2017Unnamed Road, Leningradskaya oblast', Russia, 188664
Pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) near Orekhovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 18, 2017Unnamed Road, Vaskelovo, Leningradskaya oblast', Russia, 188731
Surface of pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) in Orekhovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 18, 2017Unnamed Road, Vaskelovo, Leningradskaya oblast', Russia, 188731
Young pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) in Orekhovo, 40 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 18, 2017Unnamed Road, Vaskelovo, Leningradskaya oblast', Russia, 188731
Pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) on burnt ground near Orekhovo, 45 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 27, 2017Unnamed Road, Vaskelovo, Leningradskaya oblast', Russia, 188731
Pine firefungus (Rhizina undulata) near Lembolovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 20, 2017Unnamed Road, Vaskelovo, Leningradskaya oblast', Russia, 188731
Mushrooms Rhizina undulata) on a site of an old bonfire in Zakhodskoe, 50 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 22, 2024проспект князя Трубецкого, Полянское сельское поселение, Выборгский район, Ленинградская область, Северо-Западный федеральный округ, РоссияObservations of Rhizina undulata in Leningrad Oblast and north-western Russia reveal that the fungus grows in areas with burnt ground, often near pine trees. It was found in various locations, including Dibuny, Lembolovo, Orekhovo, and Zakhodskoe, all within 50 miles north of Saint Petersburg. The fungus was observed growing on burnt soil, near old bonfires, and in areas with recent fires. The observations were made over several years, from 2016 to 2024, during the summer months, typically in August and September. Young and mature specimens were found, with crust-like cups and distinctive surface features. The fungus seems to thrive in disturbed environments, suggesting a relationship between fire and its growth patterns. Multiple sightings in different locations indicate that Rhizina undulata is relatively common in the region.
Russian web-forums Planeta Gribov, V Kontakte, and Griby Sredney Polosy for learning names of local mushrooms.
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