Macrolepiota procera

December 14, 2018

Macrolepiota procera is found throughout the United States and Europe and is edible.

Figure 1. Macrolepiota procera growing under conifer tree on lawn.

Macrolepiota procera (Scopoli) Singer

Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Macrolepiota
Species: procera
Collection #: PLP_2018_291
Location: Charlevoix, MI

Macrolepiota procera is found throughout the United States and Europe and is edible. Be on the lookout, it grows under conifers or hardwoods, and along footpaths or in open woods. Macrolepiota procera looks like an umbrella and is known as a parasol too. It is a white mushroom. The cap can be 7-20cm wide, oval then convex and finally flat with a bump on the center . It has brown scales distributed on the cap because as it develops the surface breaks and forms these scales. The gills are free and crowded. They darken to pinkish or tan with age. The stem (10-20 cm) is long in a mature mushroom and has a double-edged ring that is movable. Flesh is white and does not bruise. The spore print was white. This mushroom is edible but can be confused with Chlorophyllum rachodes, which has a grayish-green spore print.

Macrolepiota procera Figure 2 — Figure 2. Spores are ellipsoid, smooth, colorless, thick-walled.

Macrolepiota procera Figure 3 — Figure 3. The gills and cap of Macrolepiota procera.

Macrolepiota procera Figure 4 — Figure 4. Under side of cap showing long stem with ring.

Macrolepiota procera Figure 6

References:

Baroni, Timothy J. (2017) Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. Portland, Oregon. Timber Press. p.41. Kuo, M. (2015, August). Macrolepiota procera. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com.