Why do mushrooms grow in a circle?
Vive Cabeceiras · General biology · crescimento dos fungos

The pattern of hidden growth appears on the surface.

Some mycelia spread out from a starting point, seeking nutrients in the outer areas. Mushrooms may emerge along that growing edge and form a ring. The visible circle thus follows the fungus’s expansion through its substrate. Not all fungi make these patterns; this general explanation does not confirm a ring observed in the municipality.

The network grows as hyphae lengthen and branch. Connections between the threads also allow nutrients to move through the mycelium. Imagine several interconnected paths: a ring of mushrooms, when it appears, does not reveal the whole underground pattern.

Growth does not have to trace a perfect circle. Nutrient distribution and environmental conditions influence its direction. The Australian botanic gardens describe greater development in favourable areas; the circle is a way to understand the process, not a compulsory pattern.

Sources and context
Australian National Botanic Gardens / Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research — The mycelium
https://cpbr.gov.au/fungi/mycelium.html
Accessed: 2026-11-07

Editorial summary. The date of consultation is not the date of the facts.
Text and recipe, when available. Photos, activities and updates on the page:
https://vivecabeceiras.pt/en/descobrir/terra-viva/?leitura=fungos-circulos#fungos-circulos