Echinoderma echinaceum

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

A rare find, this lovely dapperling favours mixed woodland on calcareous soil. The pointed scales on the cap, the fragmentary stem ring, and intermediate gills of varying sizes all help to differentiate between Echinoderma echinaceum and the many other similar smallish pale-capped dapperlings.

Formerly included in the genus Lepiota, this dapperling appears in some field guides under its synonym Lepiota ecinacea.

Identification guide

Cap	Conical then convex or bell-shaped and finally expanded; cream or ochre background covered in pyramidal brown scales in concentric rings. Cap diameter at maturity ranges from 1 to 3cm.
Gills	The free, crowded gills are pinkish cream, becoming browner with age; they are interspersed by intermediate gills of varying lengths.
Stem	Pinkish, the lower part covered in brown scales, darkening towards base; ring fragmentary. 2 to 4cm long and 4 to 4mm diameter.
Spore print	White or very pale buff.
Odour/taste	Pleasant odour; mild taste.
Habitat	Solitary or in small groups in mixed woodland on chalk-rich soil.
Season	July to October.
Occurrence	Uncommon.
Similar species	Lepiota ignivolvata has a bright orange or red-brown ring low down on the stem.