You will not find it in the deep, untouched bush. It does not grow under ancient beech or kauri. It waits for the cow. It waits for the sheep. It grows on dung. This is not a tragedy. It is an adaptation. The Dung Roundhead is a creature of the margin, thriving where native forest meets pasture, where the old world meets the new. The cap is small, convex, and often slightly umbonate. Its colour is a dull ochre or brownish-yellow, fading with age. It is dry to the touch, unlike the slimy waxcaps. Underneath, the gills are attached to the stem. They start as a pale violet, but this colour is fleeting. As the spores mature, they turn a rusty brown, coating the surrounding dung in a fine dust. The stem is slender, fibrous, and coloured like the cap. In young specimens, a delicate web of fibres—the cortina—stretches from the stem to the cap edge. It protects the developing gills, then tears and disappears. This fungus feeds on the decomposing matter in herbivore dung. It breaks down tough plant fibres that have passed through the digestive systems of cows and sheep. In doing so, it releases nutrients back into the soil. It is a recycler, working in the shadows of the farm. Without it, the dung would pile up. The pasture would stagnate. Dung Roundheads are common throughout New Zealand, particularly in agricultural areas. They fruit year-round, appearing quickly after rain. They are not edible. Like many cortinarious fungi, they contain toxins that can cause severe gastrointestinal distress. They are best left alone. Their role is ecological, not culinary. Threats are minimal. The species is widespread and adaptable. It thrives in disturbed environments where other fungi might struggle. However, intensive farming practices, such as the heavy use of fungicides or fertilisers, can reduce its abundance. The fungi wait for the conditions to return. They do not rush. It carries on.