Black-eyed Parasol

Description:

Small size, a cap with fine, grey-black scales, and a lack of color changes make this Lepiota one of the easiest members of the genus to recognize. Cap 1.5-4.0 cm broad, convex, expanding to nearly plane, the disc often slightly umbonate; margin at first incurved, then decurved, finally plane to upturned; surface dry, tomentose at the disc, dark-grey to blackish, cuticle cracking with expansion to form a covering of fine blackish scales, less dense toward the margin, revealing a pallid ground color. Gills free, white, close, unchanging when bruised; lamellulae 1-2 seried; gill edges fringed (use hand lens).

Habitat:

Scattered in mixed hardwood-conifer woods; fruiting shortly after the fall rains.