Stropharia ambigua (Peck) Zeller
Mycologia 6(3): 144. 1914.

Photo: Young specimens

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap 4.0-14 cm broad, nearly conic when young, becoming convex to plane, occasionally slightly umbonate; surface pale yellow to straw-colored to orange-yellow, viscid when moist; margin with adhering veil fragments (appendiculate), sometimes disappearing in age; flesh thick, white.

• Lamellae

  Gills adnate, crowded, grayish when young, becoming purplish-gray to purplish-black.

• Stipe

  Stipe 7-17 cm long, 1-2 cm thick, equal to tapering downwards, stuffed when young, becoming hollow at maturity; white, silky at apex, floccose scales from the base to the veil, sometimes becoming smooth in age; veil cottony forming an evanescent superior annulus or annular zone; white rhizomorphs typically at the base.

• Spores

  Spores 10-15 x 6-9 µm, elliptical, smooth. Spore print purple-black.

• Habitat

  Solitary, scattered to gregarious, usually in deep humus of our coastal forests under conifers, but also found along streams and in damp shaded areas; from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Generally considered edible, but very mediocre.

• Comments

  The tall, pale yellow fruiting bodies of Stropharia ambigua are exquisitely beautiful, standing dramatically in the deep shade of the forest floor. The pale yellow, sometimes viscid cap with an appendiculate margin and cottony stipe are important field characters. The aspect of Stropharia ambigua is somewhat similar to Amanita gemmata which also has yellow cap. However, the latter has white spores, free gills, a bulbous base, and lacks the striking appendiculate margin.

• References

  Little, B. (1991). A Systematic Study of Hypholoma and Stropharia for California. Masters Thesis. Humboldt State University: Arcata, CA. 114 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Zeller, S.M. (1914). The Development of Stropharia ambigua. Mycologia 6(3): 139-145.
  

• Other Descriptions and Photos
• Dimitar Bojantchev: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Michael Boom: Stropharia ambigua (CP) -- very pale specimens
• Taylor F. Lockwood: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Taylor F. Lockwood: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Taylor F. Lockwood: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Michael Wood: Stropharia ambigua (CP) -- Young sporocarps
• Michael Wood: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Michael Wood: Stropharia ambigua (CP) -- a large sporocarps
• Michael Wood: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Eileen's Mushroom Mania: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Spotlight on Fungi: Stropharia ambigua (D & CP)
• Mushroom Observer: Stropharia ambigua (CP)
• Arora (1986): p. 377 (D), p. 378 (P), plate 89 (CP)
• Arora (1991): p. 126 (D & CP)
• Lincoff: p. 726 (D), plate 197 (CP)
• McKenny et al.: p. 165 (D), p. 166 (CP)
• Miller: p. 183 (CP)
• Phillips: p. 199 (D), p. 198 (CP)
• Smith & Weber: sp. 206 (D & CP)



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