Leucoagaricus leucothites

(Also known as Leucoagaricus naucinus, Lepiota naucina)

Smooth Lepiota

Order Agaricales, family Agaricaceae

CAP WHITE, SMOOTH

Cap:  4-10 cm wide; nearly round when young, then broadly convex to flat; dry, usually smooth, rarely scaly in age; usually dull white, sometimes grayish

GILLS WHITE, FREE

Gills:  free; close, broad; white when young, often becoming grayish pink in age

STALK WITH THICK MOVABLE RING, NO CUP AT STALK BASE

Stalk:  5-15 cm long, .5-1.5 cm thick; dry; white, sometimes becoming brownish in age

Ring:  white, collar-like, double-edged, movable; on upper stalk

SPORE PRINT WHITE

Spores 7.5-11 x 5-6.5 µm, ovoid, smooth, thick-walled, small apical pore, red-brown in Melzer’s solution.

ON GROUND IN GRASS

EDIBILITY: CAUTION

EATEN BY MANY PEOPLE BUT NOT RECOMMENDED; TOXIC TO SOME

POISONOUS VARIETY MAY EXIST

Lookalikes:

Amanita virosa -- vulva (cup at base of stem), skirt-like ring

Agaricus campestris -- gills first pink then brown

Chlorophyllum molybdites -- green spores, buttons stain, scales on cap

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO KNOW....

The most common killer mushrooms—white Amanitas called "death caps" (Amanita phalloides)—are not common is most urban areas. Nonetheless, they do grow in some cities. This mushroom could be confused with them. So be careful. 

Incidentally, imagine how the smooth lepiota feels, looking like a death cap.  How would you feel if you looked like a deadly white Amanita?  No one would pick or taste you. Everyone would kick you.

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