Community find

False Parasol

Chlorophyllum molybdites

Group

gilled mushroom

Spore print

Green to olive-green

Size

Cap diameter 5-40 cm; stipe height 5-25 cm and 1-4 cm thick.

Season

Summer and autumn, especially after heavy rains in warm climates.

Habitat

Commonly grows in grassy areas like lawns, parks, and golf courses; often forms fairy rings.

Distribution

Widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, becoming increasingly common in temperate areas of North America.

Key characteristics

Large white cap with brownish scales; greenish gills when mature; a prominent double-edged ring on the stem.

Fruiting body

Cap starts ball-shaped and expands to a broad convex or flat shape with a brownish central bump (umbo); surface is white with scattered brownish scales. Hymenophore consists of free, crowded gills that turn from white to a distinctive dingy green as spores mature. The stipe is long, smooth, and features a thick, movable ring.

How to recognise it

The most diagnostic feature is the green spore print in mature specimens. Check for free gills that have a greenish tint and the presence of a double-edged ring on its smooth stem.

Look-alikes

Chlorophyllum rhacodes (Shaggy Parasol) which has a white spore print, and Macrolepiota procera (Parasol Mushroom) which also has a white spore print and a snakeskin-like pattern on the stem.

Ecological role

Saprophytic, breaking down organic matter in the soil and grass thatch.

Notes

This species is famous for forming large 'fairy rings' in suburban lawns. It is one of the most frequently encountered mushrooms in urban landscapes during the summer months.