Kingdom: Fungi

Phyla: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Lypohyllaceae

Genus: Lyophyllum

Species: L. decastes

Description: Lyophyllum decastes usually known as the fried chicken mushroom. It is an edible species and in grows in clusters on disturbed ground areas. L. decastes was found in East Lansing in the wood chips and leaves. It was grown in a cluster. Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries first described this fungus, and he gave its binomial name Agaricus decastes. However, in 1949 German-born American mycologist Rolf Singer, moved its name to genus Lyophyllum, and established its current scientific name Lyophyllum decastes.

Macro morphological characters:

Caps were 5-10 cm, yellowish to brown. Fresh specimen was moist and slimy.

Stems are 4-8 cm long and 0.8 to 1.8 cm in diameter, tough. The color of the stem is similar to cap and sometimes off white to grey-brown. No ring.

Stipe- 1.5-2 cm, thick.

Gills- faces and edges that lack cystidia.

Microscopic characters: Spore is subglobos and smooth. Spore print is white.

Ecology notes: It is usually  distributed soil rich in leaf litter and particularly on grassy edges of deciduous broadleaf woodland. 

Relevance to society: It is edible mushroom. The common name is “fried chicken mushroom”. Sometimes clustered domecap can cause stomach upsets. For this it is suggested be treated with some caution.

 

References:

Arora, D. (1986) Mushroom Demystified (2^nd ed.). Berkley: Ten Speed Press.

www. first-nature.com

www. mushroomexpert.com

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