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Green-Spored Parasol
Chlorophyllum molybdites
33.5463, -112.171
Field Notes
Description:
This mushroom, known as the false parasol and green-spored parasol, is responsible for most of the mushroom poisonings in North America. A great reason for this is due to the fact that they grow in fairly urban environments (these were found in a small kid's park and a nearby grassy area) and are mistaken for the true parasol mushroom, Macrolepiota procera.
Habitat:
Growing on grass, where an abundance of water is present. Since these are found in the Sonoran desert, an area of unforgiving heat, they grow in well-irrigated lawns and in well-kept parks. They grow in families and can literally pop up overnight. During a walk yesterday, my nephew and I saw no fungus; today, there they were, still fairly young, but a great size nonetheless!
Notes:
The dimensions of this guy: the cap is 78mm long, the height of the fruting body is 65 mm, and the width of the stem is 8 mm. Gills are free and close, starting out white, then becoming yellow, then either grayish or green upon maturity (the last photos are a great example of the mature color). These are fairly young, as I've seen some to grow to about half a foot tall and wide! Make sure to keep children and pets (I think it affects them also) away from these, and if they do happen to eat some and the gills of the mushroom are at all green, seek help immediately. These can be fatal to children, whereas adults will only receive severe gastrointestinal upset (still pretty unpleasant!). Some argue that it's a Lepiota and therefore is called Lepiota molybdites by some, while Lepiota morgani is an older name for it.
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