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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
LEPIOTA CRISTATA (A. & S. ex Fr.) Kummer Edible
Figure 153, page 91
PILEUS 1/4-2 in. broad, at first ovate, becoming campanulate-convex, then
expanded, umbonate, cuticle reddish tan, intact on the umbo, elsewhere
broken up into scales which become finer toward the margin and tend to
disappear, leaving exposed the white surface beneath, margin sometimes
striate, flesh thin, fleshy, white, odor rather unpleasant, taste mild, lamellae
free, close to crowded, rather narrow, white, edges finely crenulate. stipe
slender, equal, 1-2 in. long, about J/g in. thick, glabrous or slightly fibrillose,
sometimes striate, stuff'ed or hollow, whitish or tinged lilac or pinkish brown.
annulus soft, white, tending to disappear, spores white, irregular and variable,
elliptical, wedge-shaped, or angular, 5.5-7 (8) X 3-4 /x.
On the ground, usually in groups, in open grassy places. June-Oct.
The glabrous stipe and the small wedge-shaped spores easily separate this
species from L. clypeolaria. The odor of L. cristata was described as 'fishy'
by Krieger (1936). Apparently the odor varies from strong to weak or absent
under diff'erent conditions.
LEPIOTA MOLYBDITES (G. Meyer ex Fr.) Sacc. Poisonous
Figure 139, page 72
PILEUS 3-1 1 in. broad, sometimes even larger, at first subglobose, expanding
to convex, sometimes slightly umbonate, buff colored, soon breaking up
(except on disk) to form irregular patchy scales which tend to disappear, whitish
between the scales, flesh thick, firm, white, lamellae free, remote from the
stipe, close, broad, at first white, becoming dull green, stipe 4-8 in. or more
long, up to 1 1/2
in. thick at the swollen base, tapering somewhat toward the
apex, fibrous-stuff'ed, stout and firm, glabrous, grayish white or tinged with
brown, annulus large, thick, firm, somewhat floccose, movable, spores
smooth, subelhptical, bright to dull green in mass, 9-12 X 6-8 m-
In large colonies, sometimes in fairy rings. On the ground in grassy places
and open woods. Aug.-Sept.
L. molybdites is poisonous, at least to some people, and should be avoided
as food. The danger of mistaking it for L. brunnea or L. rachodes is great. A
spore print should be obtained first, if either of the latter two species is to be
eaten. The green spore print of L. molybdites will distinguish it. The flesh of
L. molybdites is said to redden sHghtly on bruising. This species tends to be
southerly in distribution but has been collected near Ottawa. It has been
generally known under the name of L. morgani Peck. Some authors place it in
a separate genus, Chlorophyllum.
LEPIOTA NAUCINA (Fr.) Kummer Edible: Use caution
Figure 150, page 90
PILEUS 2-4 in. broad, soft, fleshy, at first subglobose, becoming hemi-
spherical, then expanded-convex, white or somewhat smoky, in age darkening
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