Green-spored Lepiota Mushroom

Description:

Most likely a Green-spored Lepiota Mushroom, they are not adult, so it's not 100% certain. And at the end a clear proof would be the spore print (green spores as the name tells). Several edible Lepiota species can also be confused with Chlorophyllum molybdites, including the parasol mushroom Lepiota procera, Lepiota rhacodes and also Lepiota americana. In case you're looking for these in a field guide, some authors include these species in the genus Macrolepiota. Chlorophyllum molybdites closely resembles two edible Lepiota species.

Habitat:

Distribution and habitat-Chlorophyllum molybdites grows in lawns and parks across eastern North America and California, and subtropical regions around the world. Fruiting bodies generally appear after summer and autumn rains. It has spread to other countries, with reports in Scotland and Australia. Description-It is an imposing mushroom with a pileus (cap) up to 40 cm in diameter, hemispherical and with a flattened top. The cap is whitish in colour with coarse brownish scales. The gills are free and white, often with a greenish tinge. The tall stipe may be up to 25 cm tall and bears a ring. This mushroom lacks the snakeskin pattern that is generally present on the parasol mushroom. Toxicity-Chlorophyllum molybdites probably causes more poisonings in North America than any other species. The symptoms are predominantly gastrointestinal in nature, with vomiting, diarrhea and colic, often severe, occurring 1–3 hours after consumption.

Notes:

The major difference between Chlorophyllum and Lepiota is that Chlorophyllum develops green tinted spores and a green spore print. In older specimens the gills often turn green also (hence the name chloro=green, phyllum=gills). However, often the spores take a while to mature and may even appear to be white as in Lepiota! There was a poisoning some years back in which a famous mycologist searched the entire fruiting body that had poisoned someone and could only find *one* green spore. Symptoms of Chlorophyllum molybdites poisoning are mostly gastrointestinal in nature. According to Dennis Benjamin (Mushrooms: poisonings and panaceas, 1995, W.H. Freeman and Company, 422 pp.) "in some individuals the gastrointestinal syndrome, which occurs about 1-3 hours after the meal, can be very severe, especially the colicky abdominal pain, which can mimic that of a 'surgical' abdomen. Symptoms persist for up to six hours, and even longer in a few patients. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea complete the picture. The diarrhea can be explosive in nature and become bloody." You probably won't die from eating this mushroom (although there is one recorded fatality involving a child), but it's certainly not a pleasant dining experience--- So be very careful if you plan on eating any Lepiota species. Projectile diarrhea would not be very much fun!