Shaggy Parasol - WWC Archives
The Shaggy parasol (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) is a common species of Fungi.
Description[]
The shaggy parasol is a large and conspicuous agaric, with thick brown scales and protuberances on its fleshy white cap. The gills and spore print are both white in colour. Its stipe is slender, but bulbous at the base, is coloured uniformly and bears no patterns. It is fleshy, and a reddish, or maroon discoloration occurs and a pungent odour is evolved when it is cut. The egg-shaped caps become wider and flatter as they mature.
The cap grows to 7.5 to 20 cm (3 to 8 in) across, while the stipe has a diameter of 1 to 2 centimetres.
Edibility[]
The shaggy parasol is popularly praised as a choice edible mushroom. However it contains toxins which can cause gastric upsets when eaten raw or undercooked, and some individuals show a strong allergic response even after cooking.
Furthermore, young shaggy parasols look identical to the poisonous Chlorophyllum molybdites. Checking the spore print is essential as C. molybdites' print is green (older specimens have slightly green gills). As a result, this mushroom is not recommended for inexperienced hunters.