''Leucoagaricus barssii'' is a species of

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the 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, separately from th ...

in the family

Agaricaceae The Agaricaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi and include the genus ''Agaricus'', as well as basidiomycetes previously classified in the families Tulostomataceae, Lepiotaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. Taxonomy The family Agaricaceae was publishe ...

. It is commonly known as the smoky dapperling.

Taxonomy

Originally classified as ''Lepiota barssii'' by the American mycologist

Sanford Myron Zeller Sanford Myron Zeller (19 October 1885 – 4 November 1948) was an American mycologist. Born in Coldwater, Michigan, Zeller was educated at Lawrence College in Wisconsin, then Greenville College in Illinois, from which he received a Bachelor of S ...

in 1934 and reclassified as ''Leucoagaricus barssii'' by the mycologist Else C. Vellinga in 2000. The

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

of the ''

Leucoagaricus ''Leucoagaricus'' is a genus of fungi in the family Agaricaceae. Several fungus-growing ants cultivate multiple species for food. The genus contains approximately 90 species. Taxonomy This group of mushrooms was first defined as a subgenus of ' ...

'' genus, ''Leucoagaricus macrorhizus'' was reclassified as ''Leucoagaricus barssii.''

Description

''Leucoagaricus barssii'' is a large dapperling mushrooms with white flesh. Cap: 4-8cm. Starts convex before becoming depressed. May also present as slightly umbonate. It is fibrous with scattered scales. Stem: 4-8cm. Tapers towards the base and possesses a wide

annulus Annulus (or anulus) or annular indicates a ring- or donut-shaped area or structure. It may refer to: Human anatomy * ''Anulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis'', spinal structure * Annulus of Zinn, a.k.a. annular tendon or ''anulus tendineus com ...

. Gills: White or cream in colour and attached freely with a collar. Spore print: creamy white. Spores: Ovoid and smooth. Dextrinoid. 7-8 x 5-5.5 μm. Taste: Indistinct. Smell: Pleasant and fresh.

Habitat and distribution

''L. barssii'' is reported as being widespread but rarely recorded in the United Kingdom. Observations of it appear to be uncommon in Europe with the most common locations for purported observations being the West Coast of the United States.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4082938 barssii Taxa described in 1934