American Lepiota
Leucoagaricus americanus (Peck) Vellinga
American Lepiota: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/5003
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78 Records

Status

Found in Groups/clusters on stumps, wood chips, mulch piles, and mown grass.

Description

Cap: White (reddish in age) with brown center; red-brown small, pointed scales which wash off easily; dry; convex to nearly flat, often with an umbo; margin may be striate; flesh white, stains yellow then grayish-red. Gills: White, stain yellow, then reddish-brown in age; close. Stalk: White, stains yellow-orange (red in age; usually enlarged in middle and swollen at base; white membranous ring may disappear early (J. Solem, pers. comm.).

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Source: Wikipedia

Leucoagaricus americanus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Leucoagaricus
Species:
L. americanus
Binomial name
Leucoagaricus americanus
(Peck) Vellinga (2000)
Synonyms[1]
  • Agaricus americanus (Peck)
  • Lepiota americana (Peck) Sacc.
  • Lepiota bresadolae Schulzer
  • Agaricus americanus Peck (1869)
  • Leucocoprinus americanus (Peck) Redhead (1979)
  • Leucocoprinus biornatus sensu auct. brit., auct. eur. (2005)
Leucoagaricus americanus
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Gills on hymenium
Cap is flat or convex
Hymenium is free
Stipe has a ring
Spore print is white
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is edible

Leucoagaricus americanus, commonly known as the American parasol,[2] is a mushroom in the genus Leucoagaricus, native to North America.[3] It was first described by Charles Horton Peck, an American mycologist of the 19th and early 20th centuries, in 1869. It is widely distributed in North America, though more common east of the Rocky Mountains; it is saprobic, and grows on sawdust, on wood chips, on stumps, and on the ground.[4]

Description

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The cap is 3–15 cm and oval in shape when immature, becoming convex to flat when fully grown. The cap feels dry and smooth at the beginning, but gradually gets reddish to reddish brown scales. It is white in color but reddens with maturity or after being handled.[4] The gills are free from the stipe and lie close together. They appear white when young and are stained pinkish to maroon. The stipe is 7–14 cm long, often enlarged at or below the middle and tapering toward the base. It appears white at first, staining or aging pink or reddish brown. It feels smooth with its silky hairs. The membranous veil leaves a white double edged ring on the upper stipe that may disappear in age.[3] The spores are white to cream in color and measure 8–10 x 6–7.5 μm.[1] The flesh is white throughout. It bruises yellow to orange when young but dries reddish when mature. The flesh is thick and discolors when cut, bruised or damaged.[3] It is reported to be edible, but not recommended for consumption because of possible confusion with toxic species like Chlorophyllum molybdites.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Wood, Michael; Fred Stevens. "California Fungi—Leucoagaricus americanus". Mykoweb. California Fungi.
  2. ^ Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi (Second ed.). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 978-0-89815-169-5.
  3. ^ a b c d Rogers Mushrooms. "Leucoagaricus americanus". Archived from the original on 2011-11-09.
  4. ^ a b Kuo, M. (2005, October). Leucoagaricus americanus. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/leucoagaricus_americanus.html