Saproamanita praeclara

Saproamanita praeclara
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Amanitaceae
Genus:	Saproamanita
Species:	S. praeclara
Binomial name
Saproamanita praeclara (A.Pearson) Redhead, Vizzini, Drehmel & Contu
Synonyms
Amanita praeclara (A.Pearson) Bas Aspidella praeclara (A.Pearson) Vizzini & Contu Lepiota praeclara A.Pearson Macrolepiota praeclara

Saproamanita praeclara Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is conical or convex
	Hymenium is free
	Spore print is white
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is unknown

Saproamanita praeclara, or the playing field lepidella, is a species of fungus from South Africa.

Description

Saproamanita praeclara is a robust, white mushroom. ^[1] The cap is 1–9.5 centimetres (1⁄2–3+3⁄4 inches) in diameter. It is white with lemony yellow tinges. The cap starts off conical and hairless, but becomes convex and loosely hairy with time. ^{[1] [2]} It is sometimes slightly dented and hairless at the center. ^{[1] [3]} The margins of the cap are shaggy and hang down towards the stem. ^[2] The cap has a strong very noticeable scent.

The solid stem is 11–13 cm (4+1⁄2–5 in) long. It ranges from white to lemony yellow in colour. It becomes bulbous towards the base and is powdery and hairy near the top. It has a soapy scent. ^[2]

The ring is hairy. The gills are free, deep and crowded. They are white or cream coloured when the organism is young and become yellow with age. ^{[2] [3]} The spore print is white. ^[2]

Distribution and habitat

S. praeclara grows in southern parts of the Western Cape of South Africa. ^[2] It grows in rings in grassy areas (such as fields and lawns) and near woods. ^{[2] [3]}

References

1. Reid, Derek A.; Eicker, Albert (1993-08-01). "South African fungi 3: A reinvestigation of Pearson's Lepiota types". South African Journal of Botany. 59 (4): 410–424. doi: 10.1016/S0254-6299(16)30714-1 . ISSN   0254-6299.
2. Levin, Hilda; Branch, Margo; Rappoport, Simon; Mitchell, Derek (1985). A Field guide to the mushrooms of South Africa (1st ed.). Cape Town: C. Struik. ISBN   0-86977-229-5. OCLC   13003709.
3. "Amanita praeclara - Amanitaceae.org - Taxonomy and Morphology of Amanita and Limacella". www.amanitaceae.org. Retrieved 2023-01-19.