Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (Peck) Singer
Sydowia 2: 36. 1948.

Common Name: none

Synonym: Lepiota rubrotincta Peck

• Pileus

  Cap 2-6 cm broad, rounded to ovoid, becoming convex, in age nearly plane with an umbonate disc; surface at first smooth, the disc various shades of brown shading to a lighter margin, cuticle soon splitting, becoming radially fibrillose, revealing zones of underlying white tissue; flesh thin, white, unchanging; odor and taste mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills free, close, white, moderately broad.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4-10 cm tall, 0.4-0.7 cm thick, hollow, fragile, equal to slightly enlarged at the base; surface white, smooth or with a scattering of fibrils; veil membranous forming a persistent, superior ring.

• Spores

  Spores 7.5-9 x 5-6 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Solitary to scattered in duff in hardwood/conifer woods; fruiting soon after first fall rains.

• Edibility

  Edibility unknown; too small and unsubstantial to have culinary value; some Lepiotas (s.l.) are known to contain the same toxins as in the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides).

• Comments

  Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus is one of the first mushrooms to appear in our woodlands after the start of the fall rains. An attractive, slender mushroom, it is distinguished by a cap which has a reddish-brown disc which shades to a pale margin, a surface that soon becomes radially fibrillose due to splitting of the cuticle, free white gills, and a persistent superior ring. Unlike several other small lepiotaceous fungi in our area, this species does not bruise reddish to reddish-brown when handled. Lepiota cristata is similar but has concentrically arranged cap scales, and has a pungent odor. A microscope is required to differentiate Leucoagaricus from Lepiota.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Tom Duffy: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (CP) -- closeup
  • Eileen's Mushroom Mania: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (CP)
  • George Barron's Fungi of Canada (East): Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (D & CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 304 (D) & (CP) [Lepiota rubrotincta]
  • Lincoff: p. 522 (D), plate 175 [Lepiota rubrotincta]
  • Phillips: p. 32 (D & CP) [Lepiota rubrotincta]
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 161 (D & CP) [Lepiota rubrotincta]
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)