Leucoagaricus badhamii

Leucoagaricus badhamii is a species of fungus in the family Agaricaceae and genus Leucoagaricus. The flesh of this mushroom turns blood red when cut or bruised, hence its common name of blushing dapperling. These damaged areas may eventually turn brown or black and likewise the mushroom may discolour brown or black with age. All parts of the flesh display red staining aiding in identification.

Leucoagaricus badhamii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Leucoagaricus
Species:
L. badhamii
Binomial name
Leucoagaricus badhamii
(Berk & Broome) Singer (1951)
Synonyms[1]

Agaricus badhamii Berk. & Broome (1854)
Lepiota badhamii Quél. (1872)
Mastocephalus badhamii Kuntze (1872)
Lepiotophyllum badhamii Locq. (1942)
Leucocoprinus badhamii Locq. (1943)

Leucoagaricus badhamii
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Gills on hymenium
Cap is ovate or flat
Hymenium is free
Stipe has a ring
Spore print is white
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is unknown or poisonous

Leucoagaricus badhamii is a species of mushroom belonging to the genus Leucoagaricus. It is commonly known as Badham's agaricus or sometimes as Badham's leucoagaricus. This mushroom is part of the family Agaricaceae. The cap color is typically white, and it can reach a diameter of about 3 to 8 centimeters (1.2 to 3.1 inches).

Taxonomy

edit

This mushroom was first described by the British mycologists Miles Joseph Berkeley and Christopher Edmund Broome in 1854 who gave it the name Agaricus badhamii.[2] In 1943 the French mycologist Marcel Locquin moved this species to the genus Leucocoprinus and some modern sources still refer to it as Leucocoprinus badhamii however in 1951 it was reclassified as a Leucoagaricus species by the German mycologist Rolf Singer.

Etymology

edit

Leucoagaricus gets its name from the Greek Leucos meaning white and Latin or Greek Agaricus meaning 'of the country'.[3] Badhamii is named for the British writer, physician, entomologist and mycologist Charles David Badham, author of the 1847 text Treatise on the Esculent Funguses of England.[4]

Description

edit

Leucoagaricus badhamii is a large dapperling mushrooms with white flesh that readily stains red-brown when damaged.

Cap: 5-8cm. Starts ovate/hemispherical before flattening with a slight umbo before finally becoming slightly depressed. Whitish background with brown to black scales or speckles. Turns red when cut or bruised with damaged areas ultimately turning brown or black. Discolours brown or black with age. Stem: 8-12cm. Tapers upwards from bulbous base with a persistent but fragile annulus. Stains red-brown when touched. Gills: White, free/collared, crowded. Staining red-brown when touched. Spore print: White. Spores: ovoid, smooth, dextrinoid. 6.5-8 x 4-4.5 μm. Taste: indistinct, may turn saliva red. Smell: fruity/acidic.[5][6]

Habitat and distribution

edit

Like other Leucoagaricus species, L. badhamii is a saprotroph, living on humus rich ground, growing in small groups in deciduous and mixed woodland[7] and may be associated with beech trees.[8] It may also grow on woodchips[9] enabling it to appear outside of forest habitats. It has a widespread distribution and has been found in America, Britain, Europe and Africa but appears to be uncommon.[10][11]

Similar species

edit

Leucoagaricus erythrophaeus exhibits similar red staining.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "GSD Species Synonymy: Leucoagaricus badhamii (Berk. & Broome) Singer". Species Fungorum. CAB International. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  2. ^ "Leucoagaricus badhamii (Berk. & Broome) Singer | COL". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  3. ^ "Fungi naming, author citation and biographies". www.first-nature.com. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  4. ^ "Leucocoprinus badhamii, Blushing Dapperling mushroom". www.first-nature.com. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  5. ^ Buczacki, Stefan (2012). Collins fungi guide. London: Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-724290-0. OCLC 793683235.
  6. ^ Sterry, Paul (2009). Collins complete British mushrooms and toadstools : the essential photograph guide to Britain's fungi. London: Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-723224-6. OCLC 373477641.
  7. ^ "Leucocoprinus badhamii, Blushing Dapperling mushroom". www.first-nature.com. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  8. ^ "Leucoagaricus badhamii". www.commanster.eu. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  9. ^ "Leucoagaricus americanus - Leucoagaricus americanus - Discover the Wild". discoverthewild. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  10. ^ "Mushroom Observer". mushroomobserver.org. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  11. ^ "MyCoPortal - Leucocoprinus badhamii". www.mycoportal.org. Retrieved 2022-07-07.