Marshgrass-fungal decomposition is not wholly confined to the
standing-decaying-shoot system. These basidiomycete mushrooms had
their feeding mycelial base in piles of wrack (old decaying stems
of smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora) that had been
exported from the marsh, deposited by waves at the top of the
beach, and buried by dune shifting behind Nannygoat Beach on Sapelo
Island. Mushrooms pop up in the dunes during rainy periods. Next
to nothing is known about basidiomycetous decomposition of
cordgrass stems.