Sti"LL" More!

[Dave W]

Finishing off the letter "L"... I hope! Quite a hodgepodge here, diverse species.

Lacrymaria velutina (also called Lacrymaria lacrymabunda and formerly Psathyrella velutina), is a fairly fragile mushroom featuring a cap that's usually covered in shaggy/haiory scales, appendiculate veil material along the cap margin, and a very dark spore print, almost black. Some sources list it as edible, but I have never tried it. It just doesn't look very appetizing to me.

Leptonia is a genus which some mycologists consider to be a subgenus of Entoloma. These mainly feature concave dark caps with variable gill attachment, sometimes decurrent. A few species are more colorful than the norm. Microscopic view of the spores immediately shows the alliance to Entoloma. Certainly not recommended as anything to eat! Some interesting and photogenic types.

Leptonia odorifer.

Leptonia nigroviolacea. Found on my property!

Leptonia of unknown species.

Leotia lubrica, commonly known as "jelly babies", is a strange little asco-fungus that usually grows in clusters on the ground.

Lentinellus mushrooms grow on wood and feature serrated gill edges.

Lentinellus omphalodes.

Lentinellus cochleatus.

Lepiota used to be a much larger genus before it got split apart into Macrolepiota, Chlorophyllum, Leucoagaricus, and probably at least one other relatively new genus name that escapes me at the moment. The well-known edible "parasol mushrooms" used to be Lepiotas. Most of what remains in this genus are small whitish mushrooms, some of which are dangerously poisonous.

Lepiota clypeolaria refers to a group of closely reklated species. First photo shows a type that appears at the end of my gravelly driveway mostly every year. I also see these in the woods and in open areas, usually where the soil is thin.

Lepiota cristata is a small white mushroom with dark reddish scales concentrated near the cap center. Sometimes the partial veil forms a small but well-defined ring on the stalk. Possibly poisonous!

Lepiota cortinarius. I have found this only once, in 2014.

I got some help on Mushroom Observer from Lepiota expert Else Vellinga identifying some of these Lepiotas. This last one, Lepiota subalba, is probably rather uncommon.

Okay, time out for something you can actually eat without dying within a few days.

Laetiporus sulphureus, the classic "chicken mushroom". This one had a very pale pore surface, but closer inspection revealed the pores were yellow.

I never did get a close look at the underside of this one, that I saw on a log in a campsite where we camped for a couple nights in the Catskill Mountains. But it looks like it may be an example of the white-pored Laetiporus cincinnatus.

Leucopaxillus is a small genus of robust whitish mushrooms that taste bitter and will probably make you sick if you try to consume them. The most common species is probably Leucopaxillus albissimus. These mushrooms usually occur near or under conifers. They grow form a common "mycelial mat" of white material found just below ground level. The gill surface peels easily away from the rest of the cap as a separate unit of flesh.

Leucopaxillus tricolor is an uncommon species that has an unusual but somewhat unpleasant odor. I have seen it only once, this past summer.

Leucopholiota decorosa is a unique mushroom. It grows on wood and looks a lot like a type of Pholiota. But the spore print is white. It seems to favor periods of dry weather. A very pretty mushroom! Not edible.

Leucoagaricus is a genus of terrestrial white-spored mushrooms. They are former Lepiotas.

Leucoagaricus leucothites (formerly Lepiota nacucinus) is a good edible. But it looks like a white Amanita, that is, it looks like a "destroying angel" a deadly poisonous mushroom. So it is not recommended for beginners. I have eaten it a few times, but it kinda bothers me to do so... even though I know what it is. Most years I find it on my lawn during the autumn.

Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus refers to a group of closely-related species. Suspected of being toxic.

Leucoagaricus americanus is a decent edible. It has a strong flavor that may take some getting-used-to. It can be dried and used to flavor sauces or gravies. The stem bruises yellow to saffron and eventually develops a reddish stain on the surface.

Lycoperdon is a genus of small puffballs. When white inside they are all edible. But be certain to avoid eating an Amanita button that is still covered by the universal veil, which can cause it to look like a puffball. If you want to eat a puffball, slice it lengthwise and view the interior. If the otline of a mushroom is observed inside, then DO NOT EAT. Also, if there'a any hint of yellow, green, purple or anything other than white, discard the puffball. When edible, the interior looks like white cream cheese.

Lycoperdon perlatum is generally terrestrial, but it amy be found attached to wood or woody debris.

Lycoperdon pyriforme grows in large clusters on downed logs.

There are at least several lawn-inhabiting Lycoperdon species that are difficult to distinguish form one another. Criteria such as how the spiny surface peels away, or whether or not the spores are dispersed from a single apical pore or is some other way, are the types of things one needs to pay attention to. Also, the lengths of the spines is important. The next two I called Lycoperdon marginatum, but the one with the large apical opening is a head-scratcher. I find plenty of these in my yards every summer.

This last Lycoperdon is one that I found along a forested trail. Interesting... No idea about the species ID.

Lyophyllum decastes is sometimes called the "fried chicken mushroom". Dredged in seasoned flour and deep fried it does taste like fried chicken. I have tried this. Kind of a difficult mushroom to describe, as the cap color and gill attachment are variable. This is a white spored mushroom. There are a few large white-spored Clitocybes that occur in clusters, and these types of mushrooms are to be avoided! Lyophyllum decastes is usually found in open areas.

Other Lyophyllum species are uncommon and difficult to ID, even to genus. Confusion with Tricholoma is possible. I *think* these next ones are some species of Lyophyllum.

Lenzites betulina is the aptly named "gilled polypore".

Lycogala epidendrum is technically, not a fungus. It's a slime mold. In the initial stage it appears as groups of small spheres/ellipsoids that vary in color from gray to pink to orange.

Leratomyces squamosus var. thrausta is a very showy mushroom that grows from woody forest debris in fall. This species has been moved back and forth from Psilocybe to/from Stropharia before finding a home in the genus Leratomyces.

And finally, for the letter "L", the genus Lepista. Some mycologists include these mushrooms in genus Clitocybe. But the fleshy-pinkish spore prints seem to set them apart form the predominantly white-spored Clitocybes. Included is the excellent edible Lepista nuda, the "blewitt".

Lepista nuda. Fresh moist specimens are quite purple. Older dryer ones fade to a tan or buff color.

Lepista irina is very similar to the blewit. But it is white. Seems to be uncommon in my area. I don't find it very often. Also a good edible... except some people don't like the flavor of Lepistas.

Finally, for "L", Lepista tarda, aka Lepista sordida, Clitocybe sordida. Like a small blewitt. It can be quite purple, but usually it's tan/brown/grayish. Easily mistaken for a blewit, but it's also edible.