Leucocoprinus cepistipes
Description
Leucocoprinus cepistipes, commonly known as the Onion-Stalk Parasol, is a charming little mushroom found across gardens, wood debris, potted plants, and even greenhouses. It's a member of the Agaricaceae family and gets its unique name from its bulbous stem base, resembling a small onion! π§
π§ Appearance: This delicate mushroom sports a bell-shaped cap with fine, powdery scales. Its color is typically white to pale brownish-gray at the center, with white gills that are free from the stem. The partial veil leaves a ring on the relatively smooth stem, but be careful when handlingβit bruises yellow to brown, adding to its quirky personality!
π Habitat: Often spotted on wood chips, it can also be found in greenhouses, bark beds, and potted plants. Itβs especially common in parks and rest areas across North America.
π½οΈ Edibility: Although it is classified as edible, this mushroom is not known for its taste. Given its potential to be confused with toxic look-alikes, caution is strongly advised before consuming it. Always double-check your identification!
π¬ Confusion Alert: The mushroom world is tricky, and Leucocoprinus cepistipes has been mistaken for its close relatives like Leucocoprinus cretaceus and Leucocoprinus birnbaumii. It took years of research to sort out these similar species. Their differences? L. cepistipes is more common in North America, while L. cretaceus thrives in greenhouses and features soft, wart-like scales on its cap.
π Fun Fact: The name cepistipes comes from the Latin cepae (onion) and stipes (stem), a nod to the mushroom's swollen base. It was first described by English naturalist James Sowerby in 1796, who mistakenly thought yellow and white varieties were the same species!
π Historical Tidbit: For centuries, mycologists struggled to accurately classify this mushroom due to its similarities with other species. From the mistaken yellow descriptions of Samuel Frederick Gray to the clear white descriptions by Otto Kuntze, the story of this mushroom is a fascinating journey through botanical history.
π± Where You'll Find It: Keep an eye out in urban settings on decayed wood or wood chips, especially around trees in parks or rest areas. Itβs relatively common in warm climates and can surprise you in your backyard!
π§ββοΈ Leucocoprinus cepistipes and its look-alikes are not magic mushrooms π. Magic mushrooms, like Psilocybe species, contain psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin. These mushrooms are edible but not very tasty, and caution is advised as they can be confused with toxic species β οΈ.
Mushroom Identification
π© Cap:
Shape: Starts ovoid, then becomes campanulate or convex with a tiny umbo (little bump on top).
Size: 0.59 to 3.54 inches (1.5 to 9 cm) wide.
Color: White to cream, with brownish scales that darken as it ages.
Texture: Dry and often striate with veil fragments hanging around the margin.
π Gills:
Type: Free from the stem, crowded, and moderately broad.
Color: White when young, fading to pale buff or slightly pinkish-brown as they age.
𦡠Stem:
Length: 0.79 to 5.12 inches (2 to 13 cm) long, 4β10 mm thick.
Appearance: Slender, sometimes slightly bulbous at the base, hollow, and tapers near the top.
Color: White, bruising yellow or pinkish-brown with handling.
Surface: Smooth to slightly hairy with a delicate white ring that may disappear as it matures.
ποΈ Habitat:
Thrives in wood chips, garden beds, and on woody debris like Monterey cypress twigs.
Fruits in late summer to fall in watered areas, and even year-round in warm climates π±.
π¬ Spore Print:
Color: White.
Spores: Elliptical, smooth, 7β13 x 4β8 ΞΌm, dextrinoid (reacts to iodine-based chemicals).
π Flesh:
Thin and white, unchanging when cut.
Odor: Mild and indistinct, sometimes slightly fruity or soapy π.
Look-Alikes
1οΈβ£ Leucocoprinus cretaceus
Distinguished by larger white scales on the cap and stem. Differs in spore size.
2οΈβ£ Chlorophyllum hortense
Similar cap appearance. Features a more yellow center disc. Has a thicker annulus.
Synonyms
Agaricus cepistipes Sowerby, 1797
Agaricus cheimonoceps Berkeley & M.A. Curtis (1867)
Agaricus luteus With., 1796
Agaricus subremotus Berkeley & M.A. Curtis (1859)
Coprinus cepaestipes (Sowerby) Gray (1821)
Hiatula cepistipes (Sowerby) R. Heim & Romagn., 1934
Lepiota cepaestipes (Sowerby) P. Kummer (1871)
Lepiota cepaestipes var. cheimonoceps(Berkeley & M.A. Curtis) Rick (1961)
Lepiota cepistipes (Sowerby) P. Kumm., 1871
Lepiota cepistipes var. lutea (With.) QuΓ©l., 1886
Lepiota cheimonoceps (Berkeley & M.A. Curtis) Saccardo (1887)
Lepiota earlei Peck (1898)
Lepiota mammaeformis Underwood (1897)
Lepiota subremota (Berkeley & M.A. Curtis) Saccardo (1887)
Lepiota xylophila Peck (1907)
Leucocoprinus cepistipes (Sowerby) Patouillard (1889)
Mastocephalus cepaestipes (Sowerby) Kuntze (1891)
Mastocephalus subremotus (Berkeley & M.A. Curtis) Kuntze (1891)
Photo sources:
Photo 1 - Author: chezaaro (Aaron S) (Public Domain)
Photo 2 - Author: Rudolphous (CC BY-SA 4.0)
