Shaggy Parasol

Chlorophyllum

What is commonly referred to as Shaggy Parasol is actually three distinct species that are very difficult to tell apart. These delicious mushrooms are for advanced identifiers only because of similar-looking poisonous mushrooms that grow in our area. If you decide to forage these mushrooms, be sure they match all aspects of the identification checklist and follow my guide for how to eat a mushroom for the first time.

Slender stemmed Chlorophyllum brunneum: Sebastien Basso

Chlorophyllum rhacodes aka Shaggy Parasol mushroom

Bulbous stemmed Chlorophyllum rhacodes: AnemoneProjectors

Cap

white or olive green with flat to shaggy brown scales (the scales should not be pointed like pyramids)

Gills

white, turning tan with age

Stem

often bulbous at the base, white when young, turning brownish to olive when mature with flesh that stains reddish pink like saffron after damage or bruising

Spore Print

white

Companions

widely distributed but often found with conifers

Seasons

can be found any time the weather is mild and moist, most commonly late Summer through early Winter

Chlorophyllum olivieri aka Shaggy Parasol mushroom

Olive green Chlorophyllum olivieri: Mars 2002

How to Identify a Shaggy Parasol

1. Spore print is white

5. Flesh stains pinkish-red when cut

2. Pronounced, double-edged, collar-like ring

6. White or tan gills, never pink or brown

3. Whitish cap with shaggy brown scales

4. Stem is smooth aside from ring, not scaley or shaggy

Compare Shaggy Parasol to Similar Mushrooms:

Photo by: cooperj

Chlorophyllum

brunneum

Shaggy Parasol

Cap: Whitish with brown scales

Stem: Smooth aside from ring

Ring: Prominent, double-edged

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: Pinkish-red when cut

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Nathan Wilson

Chlorophyllum molybdites

Green-Spored Parasol

Cap: Whitish with brown scales

Stem: Smooth aside from ring

Ring: Prominent, double-edged

Spore Print: Green

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: Slowly orange-red when cut

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: the tnihekr

Lepiota

cristata

Brown-Eyed Lepiota

Cap: Small, white w/ chestnut brown scales

Stem: White, smooth, no bulbous base

Ring: White, fragile, often missing

Spore Print: White

Smell: Burnt rubber

Stain: None

Edibility: Not recommended

Wanted poster on white background_edited.jpg

Lepiota

atrodisca

Dusky Parasol

Cap: White w/ grey-black scales

Stem: Smooth and white

Ring: Fragile, sleeve-like

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: None

Edibility: Not recommended

Photo by: Roberto Zanon

Agaricus

perobscurus

Dark-Scaled Agaricus

Cap: White-ochre w/ grey-brown scales

Stem: White, slightly shaggy below ring

Ring: White, ample, skirt-like

Spore Print: Chocolate brown

Smell: Anise

Stain: Tawny brown

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Boleslaw Kuznik

Agaricus

cupreobrunneus

Brown Field Mushroom

Cap: Whitish under brownish hairy fibers

Stem: Smooth above ring, scaley below

Ring: Thin, cottony, often absent

Spore Print: Chocolate brown

Smell: Mild

Stain: Reddish brown with age

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Tim Sage

Agaricus

deardorffensis

Flat-Topped Agaricus

Cap: Whitish with brown fibrous scales

Stem: Smooth and white to pinkish-tan

Ring: Thick, white, rubbery

Spore Print: Brown

Smell: Phenolic

Stain: Yellow at base of stem when cut

Edibility: Poisonous

Lepiota

atrodisca

Dusky Parasol

Cap: Small, white with grey/black scales

Stem: Smooth, white, brown w/ age

Ring: Fragile, sleeve-like

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: None

Edibility: Not recommended

Photo by: Ryane Snow

Lepiota

castanea

Petite Parasol

Cap: White to yellow with brown scales

Stem: Slender, brown scales on bottom

Ring: Insignificant, often missing

Spore Print: White

Smell: Sometimes faintly sweet

Stain: Stem bruises orange or yellow

Edibility: Deadly

Photo by: Allyzilla

Amanita

Pantherinoides

Western Panther

Cap: Brownish with white scales

Stem: Smooth and white

Ring: Thin and white

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: None

Edibility: Deadly

Photo by: Richard Daniel

Lepiota

subincarnata

Deadly Parasol

Cap: White w/ ochre-brown scales

Stem: Cap-colored / ochre-brown scales

Ring: Just a fibrous zone, often missing

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct to sweet/fruity

Stain: None

Edibility: Deadly

Photo by: AnemoneProjectors

Chlorophyllum

rhacodes

Shaggy Parasol

Cap: Whitish with brown scales

Stem: Smooth aside from ring

Ring: Prominent, double-edged

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: Pinkish-red when cut

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Dr. Hans-Günter Wagner

Coprinus

comatus

Shaggy Mane

Cap: White, elongated, turns to black slime

Stem: White, slender, even, light shag

Ring: Delicate, loose from stem

Spore Print: Black-Brown

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: None

Edibility: Delicious when young!

Photo by: Peter Santerre

Leucocoprinus brebissonii

Brown-Eyed Lepiota

Cap: Small, brittle, grooved, dark scales

Stem: Smooth, white, brown w/ age

Ring: Small, fragile, often missing

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: None

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Matej Frančeškin

Agaricus

augustus

The Prince

Cap: White to yellowish w/ brown scales

Stem: White, scaley below ring

Ring: White, thing, skirt-shaped

Spore Print: Chocolate brown

Smell: Sweet almond extract

Stain: Stem does not stain when cut

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Dr. Hans-Günter Wagner

Agaricus

campestris

Meadow Mushroom

Cap: White, may have tan scales

Stem: White, w/ tapered base

Ring: Thin, cottony, rarely well-formed

Spore Print: Chocolate brown

Smell: None

Stain: Reddish brown with age

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Tim Sage

Agaricus

Hondensis

Felt-Ringed Agaricus

Cap: Whitish with brown fibrous scales

Stem: Smooth and white to pinkish-tan

Ring: Thick, white, felt-like

Spore Print: Purplish or chocolate-brown

Smell: Unpleasant, phenolic

Stain: Yellow then slowly pinkish

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Sava Krstic

Agaricus

buckmacadooi

Buck's Agaricus

Cap: Whitish with brown fibrous scales

Stem: Smooth and white to pinkish-tan

Ring: Thick, white, felt-like

Spore Print: Brown

Smell: Phenolic

Stain: Yellow at base of stem when cut

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Holger Krisp

Macrolepiota

procera

Parasol

Cap: Yellowish, dark center bump, scales

Stem: Tall, slender, brown snake skin

Ring: Prominent, double-edged

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: Not orange or red when cut

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Dick Culbert

Lepiota

clypeolaria

Shaggy-Stalked Parasol

Cap: White w/ orangey brown scales

Stem: Cap-colored with cottony scales

Ring: White and fluffy, often missing

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: None

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Zinnmann

Leucocoprinus

birnbaumii

Flower-Pot Parasol

Cap: Yellow or white with brown scales

Stem: Yellow to white and smooth

Ring: Thin and membranous

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: Fades to white in age

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Mars 2002

Chlorophyllum

olivieri

Shaggy Parasol

Cap: Brownish with brown scales

Stem: Smooth aside from ring

Ring: Prominent, double-edged

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: Pinkish-red when cut

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: Dick Culbert

Amanita

Smithiana

Smith's Amanita

Cap: White with white to brown scales

Stem: White, shaggy, rooting

Ring: White, ragged, often missing

Spore Print: white

Smell: Indistinct or unpleasant

Stain: None

Edibility: Poisonous

Agaricus porphyrocephalus

Cap: White or brown with brown scales

Stem: White or brown, tapered

Ring: Whitish, flimsy, often absent

Spore Print: Chocolate brown

Smell: Hint of almonds

Stain: Non-staining

Edibility: Delicious!

Photo by: alan_rockefeller

Agaricus

moelleri

Dark-Scaled Agaricus

Cap: White w/ grey-brown scales

Stem: White, smooth

Ring: White, felt-like or rubbery

Spore Print: Chocolate brown

Smell: Unpleasant, phenolic

Stain: Yellow at base of stem

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Alan Rockefeller

Agaricus

subrutilescens

Wine-Colored Agaricus

Cap: White w/ reddish-brown scales

Stem: Reddish above ring, cottony below

Ring: Thin, skirt-like

Spore Print: Chocolate brown

Smell: Mildly fruity

Stain: Gills stain darker while pink

Edibility: Delicious!

Agaricus subrufescentoides

Felt-Ringed Look Alike

Cap: Whitish with brown fibrous scales

Stem: Smooth and thinner

Ring: Thick, white, felt-like

Spore Print: Purplish or chocolate-brown

Smell: Indistinct or phenolic

Stain: None

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Fornax

Agaricus

xanthodermus

Yellow Staining Agaricus

Cap: White tan tint and sometimes scales

Stem: White, smooth, bulbous base

Ring: White, skirt-like, often yellow stains

Spore Print: Brown

Smell: Phenolic

Stain: Yellow at base of stem when cut

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Christian Berg

Echinoderma

asperum

Freckled Dapperling

Cap: Whitish to tan with pointed scales

Stem: Brown scales below the ring

Ring: Flimsy or cottony

Spore Print: White

Smell: Rubber

Stain: None

Edibility: Poisonous

Photo by: Ron Pastorino

Lepiota

flammeotincta

Flamming Parasol

Cap: White w/ scales, bruises scarlet

Stem: Scaled below ring

Ring: Sleeve-like, sometimes missing

Spore Print: White

Smell: Indistinct

Stain: Orange to red when damaged

Edibility: Not recommended

Photo by: Jerzy Opioła

Cystoderma

amianthinum

Common Powder-Cap

Cap: White to yellowish w/ granules

Stem: Cap colored w/ granules

Ring: Powdery, flimsy, often missing

Spore Print: White

Smell: Unpleasant husked corn

Stain: None

Edibility: Not recommended