''Lyophyllum decastes'', commonly known as the fried chicken mushroom, or chicken of the gravel, is an

edible An edible item is any item that is safe for humans to eat. "Edible" is differentiated from "eatable" because it does not indicate how an item tastes, only whether it is fit to be eaten. Nonpoisonous items found in nature – such as some mushroo ...

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 t ...

in the family

Lyophyllaceae The Lyophyllaceae is a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. A 2008 estimate indicated eight genera and 157 species; , the Catalog of Life lists 13 genera in the family. Lyophyllaceae was circumscribed by mycologist Walter Jülich in 1981. S ...

that grows in clusters on disturbed ground, often near man-made roads in gravel, with a faintly radish-like taste.

Description

The caps are smooth, varied in color, and range from wide. The whitish-grayish stalks are long and wide. The spores are white. Gills are white but may yellow slightly with age. The firm flesh remains white on exposure.

Ecology

Growing in dense, even huge clusters on the ground, ''L. decastes'' is usually found where the ground has been disturbed such as roadbeds, gravel, paths, landscaping areas, and sometimes in woods.Phyla and decastes description
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Range

Prolific in summer and fall until spring on the U.S. West Coast, it is widely distributed in North America.

Edibility

This species is considered edible and good, but should be tried with caution due to some reports of gastric upset, as well as the possibility of confusing it with poisonous ''Entoloma'' species or ''Clitocybe dilatata''.

Similar species

''Lyophyllum decastes'' is similar in appearance to the toxic species ''Lyophyllum loricatum'', ''Lyophyllum connatum'', ''Clitocybe dilatata'', and those of the ''

Entoloma ''Entoloma'' is a large genus of terrestrial pink-gilled mushrooms, with about 1,000 species. Most have a drab appearance, pink gills which are attached to the stem, a smooth thick cap, and angular spores. Many entolomas are saprobic but some ...

'' genus. ''Lyophyllum semitale'' and ''Pluteus petasatus'' are also similar in appearance. ''L. fumosum'' is also similar; it and ''L. loricatum'' are sometimes grouped with ''L. decastes'' owing to a lack of distinct features.

References

External links

* * Lyophyllaceae Edible fungi Fungi described in 1818 Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America {{Agaricales-stub