Leucocoprinus brebissonii
Encyclopedia
Leucocoprinus brebissonii is a species of fungus
in the Agaricaceae
family. It was first described by Louis-Luc Godey
in 1874 as Lepiota brebissonii, and moved to Leucocoprinus
by Marcel Locquin
in 1943. It is commonly called the skullcap dapperling due to its distinctive pattern on the cap. Until recently, this mushroom was only found in Europe but over the last few years has been identified in the Pacific Northwest
.
. Its cap
(2 to 3 cm (0.78740157480315 to 1.2 in)) starts out conical expanding to a plane in age, with a dark brown/gray center that breaks up and radiates outwards on a white and deeply striated background. The white stem
of L. brebissonii is long and slender (4.5 centimetre by 3 millimetre), equal or slightly clavate. It usually has a ring present, but due to its fragile nature sometimes it is rubbed or washed off. Its gills are crowded, white and narrowly attached to the stem, but occasionally detach in age. The spores
(9 to 12 µm x 5.5 to 7 µm) are white and have a pronounced germ pore
, elliptical or almond shape.
trees.
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
in the Agaricaceae
Agaricaceae
The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and includes the genus Agaricus, as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. The genus contains 85 genera and 1340 species.-Genera:...
family. It was first described by Louis-Luc Godey
Louis-Luc Godey
Louis-Luc Godey was a French mycologist known for his detailed illustrations of many European species of mushrooms....
in 1874 as Lepiota brebissonii, and moved to Leucocoprinus
Leucocoprinus
Leucocoprinus is a genus of fungi in the family Agaricaceae. Its best known member is the yellow pot-plant mushroom , found worldwide. The type species is Leucocoprinus cepistipes...
by Marcel Locquin
Marcel Locquin
Marcel Locquin, born May 6, 1922 in Lyon, France, died March 18, 2009, was a French mycologist....
in 1943. It is commonly called the skullcap dapperling due to its distinctive pattern on the cap. Until recently, this mushroom was only found in Europe but over the last few years has been identified in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
.
Description
Leucocoprinus brebissonii is a small, delicate, mushroom with white and brittle fleshTrama (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....
. Its cap
Pileus (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...
(2 to 3 cm (0.78740157480315 to 1.2 in)) starts out conical expanding to a plane in age, with a dark brown/gray center that breaks up and radiates outwards on a white and deeply striated background. The white 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...
of L. brebissonii is long and slender (4.5 centimetre by 3 millimetre), equal or slightly clavate. It usually has a ring present, but due to its fragile nature sometimes it is rubbed or washed off. Its gills are crowded, white and narrowly attached to the stem, but occasionally detach in age. The spores
Basidiospore
A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by Basidiomycete fungi. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid nucleus that is the product of meiosis, and they are produced by specialized fungal cells called basidia. In grills under a cap of one common species in the phylum of...
(9 to 12 µm x 5.5 to 7 µm) are white and have a pronounced germ pore
Germ pore
A germ pore is a small pore in the outer wall of a fungal spore through which the germ tube exits upon germination. It can be apical or eccentric in its location, and, on light microscopy, may be visualized as a lighter coloured area on the cell wall....
, elliptical or almond shape.
Distribution and habitat
Leucocoprinus brebissonii is found in Europe and North America from summer to fall, where it grows in the soil in woods with deciduousDeciduous
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...
trees.