Chlorophyllum brunneum
Brown Parasol
Status:
Occasional.
Meaning 'with green gills' - a reference to a species the genus was based upon. This species does not have this.
Cap:
6-20cm
Stem:
6-16cm
Meaning brown.
Description
A medium to large mushroom with distinct chestnut scales, ring on the stem and very obvious bulbous base, found in gardens, herbaceous borders and greenhouses. For many years the Brown Parasol was considered merely a subspecies of the commoner Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) and perhaps for this reason, as well as the fact not many mainstream books illustrate it, it has gone under recorded. Often found in greenhouses and in gardens the Brown Parasol is probably commoner than the national fungi database suggests and once seen it is easy to see the differences between this species and the Shaggy Parasol.
Smell
Not distinctive.
Season
Summer to winter, our photos were taken in January as these specimens were found in a 'hot house'.
Habitat & Distribution
Grows in gardens, lawns, mulched beds and greenhouses. Most records come from the east and south of England, with scattered records elsewhere. It is Scarce but probably under-recorded or misidentified for the Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes).
Edibility
We always side with caution and whilst it is reported to be edible there are a number of reports of people suffering reactions to this species, for that reason we advise to consider it Inedible.
Confusion Species
Spores
8-10.5 x 5-7 µm, dextrinoid, ovoid, with an apical germ pore.
Spore Print Colour
White.
The Shaggy Parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) is very similar to this species, the main differences being in the ring on the stem, the Brown Parasol has a simple ring not a double-ring. There is also a species called Chlorophyllum olivieri which is less contrasting with the colour of the cap, its more a dull grey and brown rather than brown and white.