Genus: Leucocoprinus

Leucocoprinus - genus of fungi of family Agaricaceae.

Genus Leucocoprinus not monographically studied. Individual species of genus examined in detail in works devoted to genus Lepiota. Genus Leucocoprinus established in 1888 by Patouillard, who placed two species from genus Lepiota into it: L. cepaestipes and L. fragilissimus. Later several more species from genus Lepiota were transferred to genus Leucocoprinus. Currently genus comprises about 15 species, growing in natural conditions mainly in Southern Hemisphere. In Holarctic region several species of genus Leucocoprinus occur spontaneously in greenhouses, hotbeds, hothouses, frequently in plantings of tropical plants. First special work devoted to this genus was published in 1978 by S.P. Wasser. Prior to that no such works existed in either Russian or world mycological literature. As a result of critical-systematic analysis based on study of extensive herbarium material from different countries and literature sources, S.P. Wasser proposed new system for genus Leucocoprinus. Two new subgenera were described for science: Leucocoprinus and Rubescentes.

Habitus closer rather to lepionas than to inkcaps, and many species have alternative name within genus Lepiota. Saprotrophs on soil, manure, litter, some species grow in greenhouses and flower pots indoors. Presumably contains no edible species. Food qualities of Leucocoprinus practically unstudied.