Chlorophyllum hortense

🏷️ Description

Chlorophyllum hortense is a fascinating species of agaric fungus in the Agaricaceae family. Its complex taxonomy reflects its evolving study: originally described as Lepiota hortensis by William Murrill in 1914, it was reclassified as Leucoagaricus hortensis in 1983 by David Pegler, and finally named Chlorophyllum hortense by Else C. Vellinga in 2002. Found in sandy soils and grassy areas, this mushroom thrives in Australia, North America, and China, often near decaying vegetation.

Key Features for Identification

• Distinct red staining on the stem when bruised.

• Movable stem ring, similar to Macrolepiota species.

• Cap with a golden-yellow umbo that breaks into concentric scales (which may wash off in rain).

• White spores distinguish it from the toxic Chlorophyllum molybdites, which has green spores.

Notable Notes

• Chlorophyllum hortense shares traits with several genera, including Lepiota, Leucoagaricus, and Leucocoprinus.

• Edibility is uncertain, with conflicting reports. Given potential toxicity, it’s not recommended for consumption.

🔎 Identification

🍄 Cap

• Size: 3.15 to 3.94 inches (8 to 10 cm) wide when mature.

• Shape: Starts convex and umbonate, expanding to flat with a slightly raised center.

• Surface: Dirty yellowish-white, dry, and covered in thread-like filaments (fibrillose).

• Center: Light brown, with woolly, floccose scales.

• Edges: Thick, rounded, and striated.

📏 Stem

• Size: 1.97 to 2.76 inches (5 to 7 cm) long; 7–10 mm thick.

• Texture: Smooth and white above the ring, brown and fibrillose below.

• Interior: Tough, solid, and sometimes slightly hollow-stuffed.

• Special Features: Inferior to median movable ring, broad and funnel-shaped, often thickened and brown.

🌸 Gills

• Type: Free, crowded, and white.

• Detail: Slightly bulging (ventricose) with smooth or subtly powdery ridges.

🦠 Spores

• Shape: Ellipsoid, smooth, thick-walled, and non-truncated.

• Size: 8–9 × 6–7 μm.

• Spore Print: White.

🥩 Flesh

• White, reddening upon bruising, and eventually browning.

• Odor: Weak.

• Taste: Mild.

🌱 Ecology & Habitat

This saprotrophic species thrives in subtropical and tropical climates, often in gardens, lawns, and meadows, especially near compost, manure, or sawdust. It grows gregariously or in clusters.

⚠️ Look-Alikes & Caution

• May resemble Chlorophyllum palaeotropicum (different spore and gill colors) or Chlorophyllum globosum (truncated spores).

• Toxic look-alike: Chlorophyllum molybdites. Young specimens are particularly difficult to distinguish in the field.

📝 Synonyms

• Leucoagaricus hortensis (1983)

• Lepiota humei(1943)

• Chlorophyllum humei (2002)

• Lepiota mammillata (1943)

• Chlorophyllum mammillatum (2002)

• Lepiota subfulvidisca (1943)

• Chlorophyllum subfulvidiscum (2002)

• Lepiota alborubescens (1962)

• Macrolepiota alborubescens (1986)

• Chlorophyllum alborubescens (2002)

• Leucoagaricus bisporus (1973)

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Alan Rockefeller (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Denis Zabin (CC BY 4.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Sawyer Baran (CC BY 4.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Damien Wallace (CC BY 4.0)