Lepiota rubrotincta: Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus

Pileus
Cap 2-6 cm broad, rounded to ovoid, becoming convex, in age nearly plane with an umbonate disc; surface at first smooth, the disc various shades of brown shading to a lighter margin, cuticle soon splitting, becoming radially fibrillose, revealing zones of underlying white tissue; flesh thin, white, unchanging; odor and taste mild.

Lamellae
Gills free, close, white, moderately broad.

Stipe
Stipe 4-10 cm tall, 0.4-0.7 cm thick, hollow, fragile, equal to slightly enlarged at the base; surface white, smooth or with a scattering of fibrils; veil membranous forming a persistent, superior ring.

Spores
Spores 7.5-9 x 5-6 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print white.

Habitat
Solitary to scattered in duff in hardwood/conifer woods; fruiting soon after first fall rains.

Edibility
Edibility unknown; too small and unsubstantial to have culinary value; some Lepiotas (s.l.) are known to contain the same toxins as in the Death Cap (Amanita phalloides).

Comments
Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus is one of the first mushrooms to appear in our woodlands after the start of the fall rains. An attractive, slender mushroom, it is distinguished by a cap which has a reddish-brown disc which shades to a pale margin, a surface that soon becomes radially fibrillose due to splitting of the cuticle, free white gills, and a persistent superior ring. Unlike several other small lepiotaceous fungi in our area, this species does not bruise reddish to reddish-brown when handled. Lepiota castaneidisca is similar but has concentrically arranged cap scales, and has a pungent odor. A microscope is required to differentiate Leucoagaricus from Lepiota.