Cystoderma amianthinum    (Scop.) Fayod 

common name(s) : Earthy Powdercap, Saffron Parasol 

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Agaricomycetidae/Agaricales/Agaricoideae/Agaricaceae  
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Agaricomycetideae/Tricholomatales/Dermolomataceae  

synonyms: Lepiota amianthina 
(unconfirmed synonyms: Cystoderma amiantinum)  

edibility : discard

photo gallery of  Cystoderma amianthinum
photo gallery of  Cystoderma amianthinum potential confusions with  Cystoderma amianthinum toxicity of Cystoderma amianthinum genus Cystoderma  

The cap is ochre yellowish to buff or brownish, campanulate then convex-flattened, with a more or less noticeable umbo; its margin is with veil flakes. The cap surface is finely grained with a mealy bloom, sometimes wrinkled with age, not viscid nor sticky.

The stem is with same colour as cap, with a fragile sheathing ring.

The flesh is whitish, yellower towards base, unchanging; its taste is mild; the odour is unpleasant, mouldy or earthy; its texture is fibrous.

The gills are white, becoming cream, emarginate to adnate, crowded (nb of gills per 90° ~ 32 ). The spore print is white. This species is saprophytic. It grows on the ground, in coniferous woods, amongst heath and moss, on a rather acid soil, under spruce or pine.

The fruiting period takes place from April to November.
Dimensions: width of cap approximately 3 cm (between 0.7 and 5 cm)
  height of stem approximately 5 cm (between 2.5 and 8 cm)
  thickness of stem (at largest section) approximately 5 mm (between 2 and 8 mm)

Chemical tests : cap turning brownish when in contact with potash (KOH).

Distinctive features : Finely grainy buff, ochre to brown cap, with umbo; stem covered with flakes with same colour as cap below the ephemeral flaky ring; white gills contrasting with cap and stem; cap surface turns red-brown with potassium hydroxide; odour of mould or earth

Cystoderma amianthinum is infrequent and widely present in the forest of Rambouillet, and is frequent, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Cystoderma amianthinum in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Cystoderma amianthinum in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18