Kingdom Fungi Order Agaricales Genus Lepiota Higher classification Lepiota | Division Basidiomycota Family Agaricaceae Scientific name Lepiota aspera Rank Species | |
Similar Lepiota, Echinoderma, Lepiota cristata, Lepiota clypeolaria, Lepiota castanea | ||
Lepiota aspera; sometimes known commonly as the freckled dapperling, is a large, brownish, white-gilled mushroom, with a warty or scaly cap. It lives in woodland, or on bark chips in parks, and gardens.
Contents
Taxonomy
Noted by two of the most eminent nineteenth century mycologists (Persoon & Fries), the freckled dapperling has been back and forth through many taxonomical name changes. For a time; it was placed with the so-called spiny Lepiota species into a separate sub-genus called Echinoderma, and was also placed into Cystolepiota. However; the most recent and widely accepted binomial name is Lepiota aspera (Pers.) Quel. The genus name Lepiota coming from the Greek, and meaning 'scale', which probably refers to the cap surface.
Description
The cap is oval at first; becoming convex, or campanulate with age. Uniform reddish/brown, or brown at the centre; breaking up into erect scales, on a paler ground, and up to 10 cm in diameter. The stem is paler; around 10 cm in length, and has sparse brown scales below the ring. The ring itself is large and cottony; sometimes adhering to the cap perimeter, and often taking brownish scales from there, which are seen at its edge. The gills are free; crowded, and white, with the spore print being white also. The flesh is white, and is said to smell of rubber; earth balls, or Lepiota cristata.
Similar species
Check Lepiota; Macrolepiota, and Amanita species.
Distribution and habitat
Lepiota aspera appears during autumn; in deciduous woodland, or in parks and gardens where 'wood chip' mulch has been used. It has been recorded in most northern temperate zones; England; Europe, and North Africa.
Edibility
This mushroom has been shown to cause alcohol intolerance and may be poisonous.
