Lepiota ignivolvata
Encyclopedia
Lepiota ignivolvata, sometimes known commonly as the Orange-girdled Parasol, is a rare member of the Lepiota
genus of gilled mushroom
s. It is among the larger species in this group, growing in coniferous or deciduous
woodland during autumn; it has a primarily European distribution. Being inedible, and perhaps poisonous, it should not be gathered for culinary use. Many of the species in this genus are deadly.
is between 4 to 10 cm (1.6 to 3.9 in) in diameter. It is convex, later flat, and with a raised central boss (umbo). The centre of the cap is reddish brown, or orange-brown, breaking into small scales, which are fewer, and lighter towards the margin. The best identification aid is the orange (somewhat indented) ring
, which is low on the white, slightly bulbous to club-shaped stem
, which often has an orange flush at its base. The gills are white to cream, giving a white spore print
. They are free of the stem, and are fairly crowded together. The flesh
is white throughout, and has an unpleasant chemical smell, similar to that which is produced when cutting metal; the odor has also been compared to rubber. L. ignivolvata has an unpleasant, rancid taste. The spores are spindle (fusiform) or almond (amygdaloid) in shape, with dimensions of 9–13 to 5–7; µm
.
The similar species Lepiota ventriosospora and Lepiota cristata lack the orange colouring on the ring.
, its stronghold being in central to southern Europe. In Britain
it is rare, and resides on the British Red Data list. It appears in deciduous
, and coniferous woods, in autumn, and seems to favour beech
.
Lepiota
Lepiota is a genus of gilled mushrooms in the family Agaricaceae. All Lepiota species are ground-dwelling saprotrophs with a preference for rich, calcareous soils. Basidiocarps are agaricoid with whitish spores, typically with scaly caps and a ring on the stem. Around 400 species of Lepiota are...
genus of gilled mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
s. It is among the larger species in this group, growing in coniferous or deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
woodland during autumn; it has a primarily European distribution. Being inedible, and perhaps poisonous, it should not be gathered for culinary use. Many of the species in this genus are deadly.
Description
The capPileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
is between 4 to 10 cm (1.6 to 3.9 in) in diameter. It is convex, later flat, and with a raised central boss (umbo). The centre of the cap is reddish brown, or orange-brown, breaking into small scales, which are fewer, and lighter towards the margin. The best identification aid is the orange (somewhat indented) ring
Annulus (mycology)
An annulus is the ring like structure sometimes found on the stipe of some species of mushrooms. The annulus represents the remaining part of the partial veil, after it has ruptured to expose the gills or other spore-producing surface. An annulus may be thick and membranous, or it may be cobweb-like...
, which is low on the white, slightly bulbous to club-shaped stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
, which often has an orange flush at its base. The gills are white to cream, giving a white spore print
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
. They are free of the stem, and are fairly crowded together. The flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
is white throughout, and has an unpleasant chemical smell, similar to that which is produced when cutting metal; the odor has also been compared to rubber. L. ignivolvata has an unpleasant, rancid taste. The spores are spindle (fusiform) or almond (amygdaloid) in shape, with dimensions of 9–13 to 5–7; µm
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
.
The similar species Lepiota ventriosospora and Lepiota cristata lack the orange colouring on the ring.
Distribution and habitat
Lepiota ignivolvata is widespread across EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, its stronghold being in central to southern Europe. In Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
it is rare, and resides on the British Red Data list. It appears in deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
, and coniferous woods, in autumn, and seems to favour beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
.