Aurumalah Caps

Aurumalah Caps are a fruiting fungus that is most often found at the base of large deciduous trees with a vast mycelium network interlinking with it's host tree's roots. The fruiting bodies of the mushrooms are tall and spindly, known to grow in tall colonies, and have fluted caps. The mushrooms themselves are coated in fluffy iridescent spores, most often yellow or pale cream in color, that can seem to glitter in the light as a way of attracting pollinators who confuse them for pollen. This is aided by their sweet and almost fruity scent, making them highly desirable to herbivores. The spores of this mushroom, due to being highly iridescent, have occasionally been confused for glowing when under dim light; The fungus has no true bioluminescence.   As with the vast majority of fungi, the mushrooms are merely the fruiting body of a much larger structure, most of which is located underground. This mushroom feeds on decaying matter and forms a symbiotic relationship with its host trees, producing sugars that allow the plant to survive Terra's brutal winters. In exchange, the fungus leeches nutrients from the tree during more productive times of year. Aurumalah Caps also are capable of breaking down magic and using it as an energy source to produce its own sugars, which is not common among tree species, likely being a unique ecological niche.

Aurumalah Caps reproduce by mimicking the sweet smell of nectar and visually looking like pollen covered flowers to many insects, birds, and bats. It's believed the shape of their mushrooms is meant to appear like lilies, encouraging pollinators to cover themselves in its spores, which are then spread by animal life.   The species has only been documented around robust deciduous tree species such as oaks, ginkos, elms, and some aspens. It can be seen growing on roots exposed to the air, but more commonly, fruiting bodies of the fungus are found in a wide ring around living trees. Although they can subside off of dead or dying trees, this appears only temporary, as in such cases the fungus appears to go into an overdrive in producing spores in order to reproduce. Those found around dead trees commonly wither and die within a few months of the tree's death.

The species is well documented in robust deciduous forests with high amounts of magic in the environment. New growth forests and tree plantations have had attempts at introduction, though they are commonly unsuccessful. It's believed that the fungus may require forests with multiple tree species as they are almost always found in old growth forest with at least 3 if not more long lived species.

The fungus is non-toxic to humanoids, and in Eurasia, commonly used in regions where it is abundant as a meat substitute. As the fungus is relatively easy to farm, they can be common in grocery stores and markets where they can be grown in bulk. Aurumalah Caps have a sweet, slightly tangy, and earthy flavor when cooked, making them highly desirable for more savory dishes, soups, and in sauces for braised or roasted meats.   Aurumalah Caps have also proven incredibly useful for ecological study and promoting the health of deciduous forests, having long since been intentionally introduced to many regions where these trees may struggle. Introducing the fungus to these forests, as long as there is enough latent magic in the area, has resulted in more robust and cold-resistant trees that oftentimes grow larger than their counterparts without the fungus, as well as higher reproduction rates.