Green-Spored Parasol

Overview

Large white parasol with brown scales on caps to 30 cm — fruits in fairy rings on lawns, parks, and pasture across the global tropics and subtropics, and the southern US. The most-eaten poisonous mushroom in North America: causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea, occasionally requiring hospitalisation. Gills mature DULL GREEN (not white) and spore print is GREEN — the only safe diagnostic.

Season

May–Oct after rain — typical fruiting months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Host trees & substrate

• Lawns
• Pasture
• Parks

Key identification features

• Spore print GREEN (drop a cap on paper for 2 h)
• Mature gills dull green, not pure white
• Large cap to 30 cm with brown scales
• Fairy rings on lawns and pasture

Toxic lookalikes

• Parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera)caution

  Edible parasol has white spores and white gills; movable ring on a snakeskin stem. NEVER eat any parasol without a spore print.

• Shaggy parasol (Chlorophyllum brunneum / rachodes)caution

  Edible (with caution) shaggy parasols have white spores; many people have GI sensitivity even to those.

Where it grows

• Southeast Coastal Plain
• Texas
• Tropical Southeast Asia
• Southeast Australia Temperate
• Tropical African Montane