Lepiota ignivolvata

Lepiota ignivolvata

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Agaricaceae

Lepiota ignivolvata is an occasional species in most kinds of woodland. It is most common in areas of chalk or limestone, where it first occurs in late summer and autumn; however, the conifer forests of West Wales also contain plenty of these distinctive dapperlings.

Thes rather stately dapperlings (dapper might be a better word!) are instantly recognisable by the orange-banded double rings low down on the stems.

Identification guide

Cap of Lepiota ignivolvata;

Cap

4 to 10cm in diameter, the delicate cap of this whitish dapperling mushroom has light tan scales, more crowded and darker towards the centre.

The cap flesh is creamy-white and very soft.
Gills of Lepiota ignivolvata

Gills

The free, crowded gills are white, sometimes becoming cream with age.
Stem of Lepiota ignivolvata

Stem

A distinctive feature of this parasol mushroom is the bold red-brown or orange ring fairly low down on the stem.

The stem itself is white and smooth or finely scaly; it is parallel with a diameter of 0.6 to 1.5cm.

Spore print

White.

Odour/taste

Smell reminiscent of rubber, and an unpleasant rancid taste.

Habitat

On soil under conifers and broad-leaf trees.

Season

August to November.

Occurrence

Rare. 

Similar species

The much more common Stinking Dapperling, Lepiota cristata looks and smells very similar, but it lacks the distinctive red-brown ring mark.