 Mythicomyces corneipes is a saprobic fungus , and uses plant debris — usually bits of wood — as a substrate . Fruit bodies appear in autumn , and grow in groups among mosses in moist habitats , such as near the edges of bogs , or under conifers or birch in soil wet from spring flooding . It has been recorded from North America , where it is most common in the Pacific Northwest region , and Europe , where it is rare , but widespread across the northern part of the continent . In 1938 , Smith called the species " extremely rare " . 
