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Wildlife Spotting

Photo by SarahScott
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

The mushrooms had no gills as far as I could tell. The largest was about 6 inches in height. It smelled like a button mushroom to me, but with a hint of something else. I really don't know how to describe it.

Habitat:

They were growing beneath a rose bush with a variety of trees nearby including a silk tree and an olive tree. There was a sweet potato vine very near, also.

Notes:

I noticed that something had been eating on these mushrooms. I also had used fungicide on the roses above them fairly recently to cure black spot, so it may have left a niche open for the new fungus to take over.

Species ID Suggestions

shaggy mane

Coprinus comatus
KarenSaxton
1

Comments (12)
DarrenCourtney2
When this popped, did it stink? I had one near my ground cover near Yuba City, CA
SarahScott
Thank you! I have seen a lot of Tiger Swallowtails, I just haven't had any pics of them this year yet. I've also seen a Grey Hairstreak passing through here occasionally and a ton of Cabbage Whites. I saw more frogs earlier this summer than I am now, but I think once it starts raining again they'll be back with a vengeance.
HemaShah
Thanks for the info. I am always wary of mushrooms and spores! BTW I live in the Walnut Creek area and have not seen many mushrooms,butterfly ,frogs and toads yet.
SarahScott
To see any kind of detail on the spore itself you would have to use a microscope, but to the naked eye the many spores look like powder.
HemaShah
What do the spores look like? Can you see them with the naked eye? or would you need a microscope?
SarahScott
The mushrooms were destroyed before I could examine the spores, but I think I can eliminate False Parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites). It was in a relatively shady area that has compost spread on it frequently and lots of detritus. There is also no grass that grows in that area of the yard. I used this site http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species_index.html#1_4
phidauex
If you let them go a bit longer you'll get a better ID. If they are Shaggy Mane or Shaggy Parasol then they are good eating.
KarenSaxton
pretty sure it's shaggy mane. I have shaggy parasol in my yard.... if it's the false parasol, do a spore print for green-brown spores
brettpim
Currently the gills are covered by the partial veil which is the white skirt connecting the broken stem to the cap edge in your third picture.
brettpim
I think theses are either Coprinus comatus (The Shaggy Mane), Chlorophyllum rhacodes (Shaggy Parasol), or Chlorophyllum molybdites (False parasol). You will be able to confirm the first if the edges of the cap turn black, inky and curl up. This will not happen in either of the latter two but when they mature, C. rhacodes has a white spore print and C. molybdites has a green spore print and green gills. Note that C. molybdites is toxic.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mushroom Mapping
Photographed
PublishedAugust 5, 2011

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