Biology:Leucocoprinus magnicystidiosus

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Short description: Species of fungus

Leucocoprinus magnicystidiosus
Scientific classification
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L. magnicystidiosus
Binomial name
Leucocoprinus magnicystidiosus
H.V. Sm. & N.S. Weber (1982)
Leucocoprinus magnicystidiosus
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Mycological characteristics
gills on hymenium
cap is campanulate or conical
hymenium is free
stipe has a ring
spore print is white
ecology is saprotrophic
edibility: unknown

Leucocoprinus magnicystidiosus is a species of mushroom producing fungus in the family Agaricaceae.[1][2]

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1982 by the mycologists Helen Vandervort Smith and Nancy S. Weber who classified it as Leucocoprinus magnicystidiosus. The specimens studied and documented were collected by Ervin Hillhouse in 1971.[3]

Description

Leucocoprinus magnicystidiosus is a dapperling mushroom with extremely fragile white flesh.

Cap: 4-8cm wide when mature. Up to 1.3cm wide and 3.2cm high when young. Starts bulbous and expands to conical or campanulate (bell shaped) before flattening or becoming concave with the cap edges lifting upwards. Cap has striate or plicate grooves and is bright yellow with a brown centre when young. When mature the striations are bright yellow with white grooves. The cap is very fragile and sticky. Stem: 7-15cm tall and 2.4mm thick. Roughly equal in width above the bulbous base. Yellow coloured, sometimes darker than the cap and sometimes with red or brown shades. Fragile and sometimes breaking naturally under the weight of the cap. Stem ring is yellow below and white above. May disappear quickly with only fragments remaining. Gills: Yellow to white but paler than the top of the cap. Spores: Ovate with a distinct pore. Dextrinoid. 9.0-13.5 x 7.5-9.0 μm. Smell: Indistinct. Taste: Slightly bitter.[3]

This mushroom is described as being 'extremely fragile'. The stem is so fragile that when the caps are fully open and mature even a slight breeze or human breath can cause them to break. Larger specimens may collapse under their own weight and hot sun causes these mushrooms to deteriorate and disappear very quickly. So on hot days they are only ever found in the early morning. Dried specimens present with a dark red tint across the centre of the cap and the striations.[3]

Habitat and distribution

L. magnicystidiosus is scarcely recorded and little known. The specimens studied were gathered in Brazoria county, Texas in 1971 and Cades Cove, Tennessee in 1939. The later collection was described as growing in the Summer and Autumn and was found growing in scattered clusters amongst St. Augustine grass and pine. Specimens were also found growing from the soil in mixed woodland, in layers of fallen pine needles and in leaf covered grass. The mushrooms were described as being very abundant at times but fleeting and found only during and shortly after rain or in the early morning when heavy dew was present.[3]

Similar species

  • Leucocoprinus fragilissimus usually has a smaller cap (2-5cm), brighter colours and has microscopic features which distinguish it from L. magnicystidiosus.[3]
  • Leucocoprinus thoenii is described as looking similar and being separated by microscopic detail. However it is found in Africa.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q107990175 entry