White champignon (Leucoagaricus barssii)
- Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Agaricaceae (Champignon)
- Genus: Leucoagaricus (White champignon)
- Type: Leucoagaricus barssii (Long-root white champignon)
- Lepiota barssii
- macrorhiza lepiota
- Lepiota pinguipes
- Leucoagaricus macrorhizus
- Leucoagaricus pinguipes
- Leucoagaricus pseudocinerascens
- Leucoagaricus macrorhizus
Description:
An edible mushroom of the Champignon family (Agaricaceae) with a characteristic convex-outstretched hat.
The hat is from 4 to 13 cm in diameter, at first it has a hemispherical shape, and later it is broadly convex with or without an elevation in the center. The edge of the cap in young mushrooms can be tucked up, which then straightens or sometimes rises. The surface of the cap is scaly or hairy, greyish-brown or whitish in color, with a darker coloration in the center.
The flesh is white, and under the skin is grayish, dense and has a strong mushroom smell and taste of walnut.
The hymenophore is lamellar with free and thin cream-colored plates. When damaged, the plates do not darken, but turn brown when dried. There are also many plates.
The spore sac is whitish-cream in color. Spores are oval or ellipsoid, dextrinoid, sizes: 6,5-8,5 – 4-5 microns.
The stem of the fungus is from 4 to 8-12 (usually 10) cm long and 1,5 – 2,5 cm thick, tapers towards the base and has a fusiform or club-shaped shape. The base is deeply embedded in the ground with long root-like underground formations. Turns brown when touched. The leg has a simple white ring, which may be located in the upper or middle part, or be absent.
Fruiting from June to October.
Spread:
It is found in the countries of Eurasia, Australia and North America. In Our Country, it is distributed in the vicinity of Rostov-on-Don, and is unknown in other regions of the country. It grows in the UK, France, Ukraine, Italy, Armenia. This is a rather rare mushroom, more often found in gardens, parks, on roadsides, as well as on arable land, fields and thickets of ruderals. It can grow both singly and in small groups.