Leucocoprinus ianthinus

Leucocoprinus ianthinus is a small dapperling mushroom with thin white flesh. Cap: 1.5-7cm, starting ovate/hemispherical before expanding to campanulate (bell shaped) with age with a prominent umbo and then plano-convex with age. The surface is whitish with a dark purple to reddish brown centre and purplish scales spreading across the cap but becoming sparse at towards the edges. The margins have striations that extend two thirds of the way across the cap or up to the umbo. They may split radially and discolour yellowish with age and it is common for them to curve inwards with age. Gills: Free, moderately crowded and white. Stem: 3.5-7cm long and 2-5mm wide tapering upwards from a slightly bulbous base and hollow interior. The surface is yellowish white towards the top of the stem, whitish below the ring and then with a violet to lilac fibrillose coating at the base and a white tomentous covering at the bulb. The white, ascending, stem ring has a purplish margin but may disappear. Spore print: White to pale lilac. Spores: A different range of sizes is given by different sources: 8–12 x 5.5–7.5 μm or 6.5–10 x 5.75–6.5 μm or 9.5-10.5 x 6.5-7 μm. Ellipsoid to amygdaliform with a thick wall and a germ pore that is covered with a hyaline cap. Dextrinoid, congophilous and cyanophilous. In cresyl blue a pink colouration is visible in the inner wall of the spore. …