Genus: Macrolepiota (Parasol mushroom)

Macrolepiota - genus of fungi of family Agaricaceae.

Etymology

Macrolepiota, Macrolepiota, Umbrella Mushroom. From μακρός (makros), large + Lepiota f, Lepiota (the name of the genus).

Type species

Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. 32: 141 (1948) [1946]

It was established in 1948 by Rolf Singer, who placed large species with movable rings in this genus, which were previously included in the genus Lepiota (all species now known as umbrellas were once included in this genus). The type species of the genus was M. procera, which is the largest, most widespread, and well-known species in the new genus. Species with colored flesh and/or colored spores were originally also included in the genus Macrolepiota, until in 2002, based on genetic studies, they were transferred to the genus Chlorophyllum (Chlorophyllum). The genus Macrolepiota itself turned out to be heterogeneous in the 2002 sample: currently, according to the results of DNA studies, it is divided into three clades. In 1979, the genus included 11 species, as of October 2015 - 42 species.

The fruit bodies are clearly differentiated into a cap and a stem, are large in size, and have a characteristic "umbrella-like" habitus, with slightly convex or flat caps when unfolded and long, thin stems. The caps range in size from 4-7 cm (M. phaeodisca) to 18-45 cm (M. procera) in diameter.