Stropharia kauffmanii

[ Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Strophariaceae > Stropharia . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

Among the larger species of Stropharia, Stropharia kauffmanii is recognized by its yellowish, dry, innately scaly cap. The scales are not superficial veil remnants and thus cannot be easily removed. The stem is also scaly, though it can become smooth in older specimens. Stropharia kauffmanii was originally described from the Pacific Northwest, but has since been reported from the Southwest (States, 1990), Colorado (Evenson, 1997), and Quebec (McNeil, 2006); the illustrated collection was made in northern Michigan. Alexander Smith, the original author of the species, presciently wrote in his 1975 Field Guide to Western Mushrooms: "It is very likely more common and widespread than present records indicate."

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic; growing alone, scattered, or gregariously on litter and woody debris in hardwood and conifer forests; summer and fall; distributed from the Pacific Northwest to the Southwest and eastward to at least Quebec (apparently "northern and montane").

Cap: 5-15 cm; convex, becoming broadly convex or flat; dry; yellow to brownish yellowish; covered with innate, fibrillose scales; the margin sometimes adorned with partial veil remnants.

Gills: Attached to the stem, often by a notch; close or crowded; pale at first, later purplish gray to purple-black.

Stem: 6-10 cm long; up to 3 cm thick; equal, or with a slightly swollen base; dry; with a fragile whitish ring or ring zone; prominently scaly, at least when young; base with mycelial threads.

Flesh: White.

Odor and Taste: Odor slightly fragrant or slightly foul; taste mild or slightly foul.

Spore Print: Dark purple-brown to blackish.

Chemical Reactions: KOH on cap surface pinkish orange.

Microscopic Features: Spores 6-7 x 4-4.5 µ; smooth; elliptical. Chrysocystidia present.

REFERENCES: Smith, 1941. (Stamets, 1978; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Arora, 1986; States, 1990; Evenson, 1997; McNeil, 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006.) Herb. Kuo 09130701.

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Kuo, M. (2007, October). Stropharia kauffmanii. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/stropharia_kauffmanii.html