Leucocoprinus leucothites
Species of fungus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leucocoprinus leucothites, commonly known as the smooth parasol, woman on motorcycle,[2] ma'am on motorcycle,[3] white dapperling, or white agaricus mushroom, is a species of agaric fungus found in disturbed areas.
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| Leucocoprinus leucothites | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Agaricaceae |
| Genus: | Leucocoprinus |
| Species: | L. leucothites |
| Binomial name | |
| Leucocoprinus leucothites (Vittad.) Redhead (2023) | |
| Synonyms | |
| Leucocoprinus leucothites | |
|---|---|
| Mycological characteristics | |
 | Gills on hymenium |
 | Cap is convex or flat |
 | Hymenium is free |
 | Stipe has a ring |
 | Spore print is white |
 | Ecology is saprotrophic |
 | Edibility is unknown |
Taxonomy
The species was originally described as Agaricus leucothites by Carlo Vittadini in 1835, and bears similarity to species of that genus.[4] Solomon Wasser transferred it to Leucoagaricus in 1977.[5]
In 2023 this species was reclassified as Leucocoprinus leucothites effectively beginning the process of merging the Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus genera.[6]
Description
The mushroom's cap is 4 to 15 centimetres (1+1⁄2 to 6 in) wide,[7] is granular, white or gray-brown in color then sometimes grayish or pinkish.[4] The flesh may bruise yellowish and the gills reddish.[4] The stipe is 5 to 12 cm long, commonly with a wide base, and bruising yellow or brown.[7] A ring is usually present.[4] The spores are white, smooth, and elliptical.[7] They produce a white spore print.[8]
It could be confused for Agaricus species as well as the deadly Amanita ocreata.[2][7]
Distribution and ecology
Leucocoprinus leucothites has a worldwide distribution with most occurrences in Europe and North America.[9] It can be generally found in disturbed, grassy areas such as gardens and parks, and sometimes in forests.[4][8]
This mushroom has been recorded as a secondary food source for adults of the pleasing fungus beetle Tritoma biguttata affinis.[10]
Edibility
While sometimes regarded as edible,[7] the species is suspected of being poisonous due to gastric-upset-causing toxins.[11] It could also be confused with a deadly Amanita.[2][7]
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