(Leucoagaricus leucothites)
White Dapperling
A strikingly white or silky white fungus with a worldwide distribution, this recently renamed fungus is encountered in late summer to early winter. A saprophyte, it is most frequently encountered in lawns, or in other grassy or disturbed areas such as parks and gardens, but seldom in forested areas. Caps are usually 4-12 cm across, and rarely up to 15 cm. They are smooth, initially convex with inrolled margins, but becoming helmet-shaped and later plano-convex. They are not hygrophanous, but in age may have pinkish or creamy tones. The lamellae (gills) are free from the stipe, close and white. They do not bruise, but may become somewhat pinkish in age. They drop a white spore print. The stipes are 4-11 cm, smooth, silky, white, round, stuffed and somewhat brittle. They may bruise yellow or brownish. The base is enlarged to nearly bulbous at times. There is no volva. Superficially they resemble the deadly Amanita ocreata or Amanita verna, but the absence of a volva sets them apart. Nor are they mycorrhizal, unlike Amanita lookalikes. Odor is mild or earthy and taste mild. This is not a mushroom that should be harvested for the table by beginners due to the resemblance to the deadly white Amanitas, which can sometimes lose their volva with age or in the harvesting process. Moreover it causes digestive irritation in some. Only experts in identification should consider eating this species, though it is a decent edible.