Lepiota

Taxobox
name = "Lepiota"
status = secure

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image_caption = "Lepiota brunneoincarnata"
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
subclassis = Hymenomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Agaricaceae
genus = "Lepiota"

"Lepiota" is a genus of gilled mushrooms, in the order Agaricales. Though they have white spores, they are related to the familiar brown spored mushrooms of the genus "Agaricus". They typically have rings on the stems, which in larger species are detachable and glide up and down the stem. The cap usually has scales: the colours of the cap, gills and scales are important in determining the exact species, as is sometimes the smell.

The term is likely derived from the Greek λεπις, "scale". The basionym is "Agaricus" sect. "Lepiota" Pers. 1797, devalidated by later starting date, so the citation is (Pers.) "per" S.F.Gray. It was only described, without species, and covered an earlier mentioned, but unnamed group of ringed, non-volvate species, regardless of spore color. The Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries restricted the genus to white-spored species, and made into a tribe, which was, like "Amanita", repeatedly raised to genus rank.cite journal| last=Donk| first=M.A.| title=The generic names proposed for Agaricaceae| journal=Beiheifte zur Nova Hedwigia| pages=1–320| volume=5| year=1962| issn= 0078-2238]

The type species is unclear. "L. procera" is considered the type by Earle in 1909. "Agaricus columbrinus" ("L. clypeolaria") was also suggested (by Singer, 1946) to avoid the many combination involved otherwise in splitting "Macrolepiota", which include "L. procera". Since both species had been placed into different genera prior to their selection (in "Leucocoprinus" and "Mastocephalus" respectively), Donk observes that a conservation will probably be needed, expressing support for Singer's emendation.

With respect to mushrooming, this is a genus to be avoided as several species contain amanitins and are highly toxic.Benjamin DR. (1995). "Mushrooms, Poisons and Panaceas: A Handbook for Naturalists, Mycologists, and Physicians". W H Freeman & Co. ISBN 0-7167-2649-1] Those known to have caused death (or would have caused death except for intensive medical therapy) include "L. josserandi" in upstate New York in 1986, [Haines JH, Lichstein E and Glickerman D. (1986) A fatal poisoning from an amatoxin containing "Lepiota". "Mycopathologia" 93, 15-7. ] , "L. brunneoincarnata" in Spain, [Herraez Garcia J, Sanchez Fernandez A, Contreras Sanchez P. (2002) Fatal "Lepiota brunneoincarnata" poisoning "An Med Interna." 18(9):481-2 ] and "L. helveola". [Meunier B, Messner M, Bardaxoglou E, Spiliopoulos G, Terblanche J and Launois B. (1994) Liver transplantation for severe "Lepiota helveola" poisoning. "Liver" 14, 158-60. .] [Studeník P, Průcha A, Krifta P, Zeman D (1996) Fulminant liver failure in poisoning by "Lepiota helveola" Bres. "Vnitr Lek" 42(5) :342-4.]

Previously, the most familiar species were the larger species, such as the parasol mushroom and the shaggy parasol. However, these have now been placed in the different genera "Macrolepiota" and "Chlorophyllum". However the status of the genera is not unanimous as some current books still leave the members of "Macrolepiota" in "Lepiota".cite book | author = Phillips R | year = 1991 | title = Mushrooms of North America | publisher = Little, Brown & Co. | id = ISBN]

List of Lepiota species

*"Lepiota aspera" - freckled dapperling
*" - deadly dapperling
*" - chestnut dapperling
*" - shield dapperling
*" - star dapperling, stinking parasol (Europe, North America)
*"
*"
*" - deadly parasol (North America)
*"
*" - fatal dapperling

References