The
parasol mushroom (
Macrolepiota procera) is a
basidiomyceteBasidiomycota is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya within the Kingdom Fungi...
fungusA fungus is any member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. The Fungi are classified as a kingdom that is separate from plants, animals and bacteria...
with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a lady's parasol. It is a fairly common
speciesIn biology, a species is:* a taxonomic rank or* a unit at that rank ....
on well-drained soils. It is found solitary or in groups and
fairy ringA fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. The rings may grow over ten meters in diameter and become stable over time as the fungus grows and seeks food underground. They are found mainly in forested areas, but also appear...
s in
pasturePasture is land with low-growing vegetation cover used for grazing of livestock as part of a farm, or in ranching or other unenclosed pastoral systems. Prior to the advent of factory farming, pasture was the primary source of food for grazing animals such as cattle and horses...
s and occasionally in woodland. Globally, it is widespread in
temperateIn geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally mild, rather than extreme hot or cold. But in continental areas, such as central North America the variations between summer...
regions.
The height and cap diameter of a mature specimen may both reach 40 cm, a size truly impressive for the fruiting body of an
agaricAn agaric is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe , with lamellae on the underside of the pileus. "Agaric" can also refer to a basidiomycete species characterized by an agaric-type fruiting body...
.
The
parasol mushroom (
Macrolepiota procera) is a
basidiomyceteBasidiomycota is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya within the Kingdom Fungi...
fungusA fungus is any member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. The Fungi are classified as a kingdom that is separate from plants, animals and bacteria...
with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a lady's parasol. It is a fairly common
speciesIn biology, a species is:* a taxonomic rank or* a unit at that rank ....
on well-drained soils. It is found solitary or in groups and
fairy ringA fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. The rings may grow over ten meters in diameter and become stable over time as the fungus grows and seeks food underground. They are found mainly in forested areas, but also appear...
s in
pasturePasture is land with low-growing vegetation cover used for grazing of livestock as part of a farm, or in ranching or other unenclosed pastoral systems. Prior to the advent of factory farming, pasture was the primary source of food for grazing animals such as cattle and horses...
s and occasionally in woodland. Globally, it is widespread in
temperateIn geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally mild, rather than extreme hot or cold. But in continental areas, such as central North America the variations between summer...
regions.
Features
The height and cap diameter of a mature specimen may both reach 40 cm, a size truly impressive for the fruiting body of an
agaricAn agaric is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe , with lamellae on the underside of the pileus. "Agaric" can also refer to a basidiomycete species characterized by an agaric-type fruiting body...
. The
stipeIn botany, a stipe is a stalk that supports some other structure. The precise meaning is different depending on which taxonomic group is being described....
is relatively thin and reaches full height before the cap has expanded. The stipe is very fibrous in texture which garners it inedible. The surface is characteristically wrapped in a
snakeskinSnakeskin can refer to*a material that is made from the hide of a snake, which the snake usually sheds when it is stressed. Also see snake scales.*a single released by Australian band Gyroscope, see "Snakeskin "...
-like pattern of
scalyIn most biological nomenclature, a scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration...
growths. The immature cap is compact and egg-shaped, with the cap margin around the stipe, sealing a chamber inside the cap. As it matures, the margin breaks off, leaving a fleshy, movable ring around the stipe. At full
maturityMaturity may refer to:*Sexual maturity*Mature technology, a term indicating that a technology has been in use and development for long enough that most of its initial problems have been overcome...
, the cap is more or less flat, with a chocolate-brown
umboUmbo may refer to:*A shield boss*A dome or peak at the top of some varieties of fungi*The Umbo of tympanic membrane - a part of the human body*Umbo is the part of a Bivalve shell which was formed when the animal was a juvenile...
in the centre that is leathery to touch. Dark and cap-coloured flakes remain on the upper surface of the cap and can be removed easily. The
gillA gill, or lamella, is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of a mushroom, most often but not always an agaric. As fungi are studied in more detail, several other types of fungi exhibit gills while not members of the Agaricales. It is now clear that this is a case of convergent evolution A gill,...
s are crowded, free, and white with a pale pink tinge sometimes present. The
spore printthumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
is white. It has a pleasant
nuttyNutty was a British comic that ran for 292 issues from 16 February 1980 to 14 September 1985, when it merged with The Dandy. Published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, Nutty was an attempt to create a more lively and chaotic comic compared to many on sale at the time. Its strips included:* Bananaman as...
smell. When sliced, the white flesh may turn a pale pink.
Uses
It is a very sought after and popular fungus in Europe, due in part to its large size, seasonal frequency and versatility in the kitchen.
The parasol mushroom is difficult to mistake for any other, especially in regions like eastern Europe where the poisonous look-alike
Chlorophyllum molybditesChlorophyllum molybdites, which has the common names of false parasol or green-spored parasol is a widespread mushroom. Highly poisonous and producing severe gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, it is commonly confused with the shaggy parasol, and is the most commonly consumed...
does not occur. Nevertheless, as with picking any fungus for consumption, caution should be exercised at all times.
The parasol mushroom may be eaten raw. It is popular soaked in butter. Only the cap of fresh specimens is considered edible.
Similar species
Smaller but similar in appearance is the common
shaggy parasolThe Shaggy parasol is the common name for two closely related species of mushrooms, Chlorophyllum rhacodes and C. brunneum, found in North America and Europe .- Taxonomy :...
(
Chlorophyllum rhacodes.) Its edibility is suspect as it causes mild sickness in some people, especially when eaten raw. One must learn to distinguish the two as their geographical ranges overlap.
Differences from the parasol mushroom include its smaller dimensions, pungent (fruity) and reddening flesh when cut, lack of patterns on its stipe, and very shaggy cap surface.
Macrolepiota mastoidea, a European species, is yet another very large edible mushroom. Its dimensions are generally smaller than that of
M. procera and the markings on its stipe less obvious. It is also much rarer.
Species of
AgaricusAgaricus is a large and important genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with possibly over 300 members worldwide...
have brown spores and the gills of mature specimens are never white.
There is a few poisonous species which can be mistaken for
M. procera.
- Chlorophyllum molybdites
Chlorophyllum molybdites, which has the common names of false parasol or green-spored parasol is a widespread mushroom. Highly poisonous and producing severe gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, it is commonly confused with the shaggy parasol, and is the most commonly consumed...
, a species that causes the largest number of annual mushroom poisonings in North AmericaNorth America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific...
due to its close similarity. Faintly green gills and a pale green spore print give it away. Furthermore this mushroom lacks the aforementioned snakeskin pattern that is generally present on the parasol mushroom. . Its range is reportedly expanding into Europe.
- Leucocoprinus brunnea, also found in North America, slowly turns brown when sliced.
- White and immature species of Amanita
The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own...
are also a potential hazard. To be sure, one must only pick parasol mushrooms past their button stage. A general rule of thumbA rule of thumb is a principle with broad application that is not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable for every situation. It is an easily learned and easily applied procedure for approximately calculating or recalling some value, or for making some determination...
with the parasol mushroom as compared to amanita species is that the parasol mushroom has darker flakes on a lighter surface, whereas amanita species have the opposite, lighter flakes (if there are any) on a darker surface, such as the Panther cap.
- The Saffron Parasol Cystoderma amianthinum
Cystoderma amianthinum, commonly called the saffron parasol, the saffron powder-cap, or the earthy powder-cap, is a small orange-ochre, or yellowish-brown, gilled mushroom. It grows in damp mossy grassland, in coniferous forest clearings, or on wooded heaths. It is probably the most common of the...
is very much smaller, and not often eaten.