Synonyms: Elvella inflata, Helvella acaulis, Helvella inflata, Phallus acaulis, Rhizina inflata, Rhizina laevigata, Rhizina praetexta.
Common names: pine firefungus, Doughnut Fungus.
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.
Czech: Kořenitka nadmutá, Estonian: Põleseen, German: Wellige Wurzellorchel, Japanese: ツチクラゲ, Russian: Ризина, Swedish: Rotmurkla, Ukrainian: Ризина хвиляста.
Rhizina undulata is a species of fungus in the family Rhizinaceae, characterized by its distinctive wavy to undulate cap margin and brown to dark brown color. In East and Central Texas, it typically fruits in the spring and summer months, often in association with coniferous trees, particularly loblolly pine and shortleaf pine. The fungus grows in a terrestrial habit, forming small to medium-sized cups or saucers up to 10 cm in diameter, with a felted to hairy exterior and smooth interior. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including pine flats, woodland edges, and along roadsides, where coniferous trees are present.
Crust like caps of postfire root rot (pine-fire cushion) ascomycete mushrooms Rhizina undulata on burned ground in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, April 21, 2012
Park Road 1-A, Bastrop, TX 78602, USAIn East and Central Texas, observations of the fungus Rhizina undulata have been documented. The species is characterized by its crust-like caps, which form postfire root rot, also known as pine-fire cushion. In Bastrop State Park, these ascomycete mushrooms were found on burned ground in April 2012. The fungus was observed growing in areas where the soil had been charred by fire, indicating a potential association with fire ecology. The appearance of Rhizina undulata in these regions suggests that it may play a role in decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients in fire-affected ecosystems. Further observations are needed to fully understand the ecological significance of this species in East and Central Texas. The fungus's growth habits and interactions with its environment are likely influenced by factors such as soil type, moisture, and temperature.
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