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A mycologist compares a porcini with the illustrations in a mushroom atlas while the Expert explains

Shaggy Parasol

Chlorophyllum rhacodes · family Agaricaceae

Description

The shaggy parasol is a large mushroom with a parasol-shaped cap 8–15 cm across, covered with erect, brown scales. The white gills and the movable ring on the stem resemble the parasol mushroom, but the stem is smooth, without a zigzag pattern, and the base is bulbously widened. Characteristic is the reddening of the flesh and stem when damaged.

It grows at forest edges, in parks, glades and gardens, and is common in Poland. Young specimens are easily confused with poisonous species, especially other Chlorophyllum species.

In some people it causes gastrointestinal complaints, and because of its similarity to poisonous species collecting it is discouraged. Do not collect it if you are not certain of the species.

Identification features

Cap
Diameter 6–20 cm (descriptions give different ranges); globose or egg-shaped when young, older parasol-shaped, flattened. Cuticle grey-brown or brown, covered with fibrous, concentrically arranged, darker, clearly erect scales on a pale background.
Hymenophore (underside of the cap)
Gills white, free, sometimes with drops of liquid; olive-greenish after drying; redden under pressure.
Stem
Height 5–20 cm, thickness 1–3 cm (descriptions give different ranges); bulbously widened at the base, almost smooth, without banding (without a zigzag pattern), at first white, browning with time, reddening when damaged. White ring beneath the cap, movable along the stem.
Flesh
Whitish, when damaged changes colour to orange-ochre to reddish (according to some descriptions reddish or burgundy, with a sharp smell when cut). Taste mild; according to some descriptions without smell. Do not taste the flesh of unidentified mushrooms.
Spore print and spores
Spore print white (green in C. molybdites). Spores smooth, ellipsoid, 9–12 × 6–7 µm.

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. Terrestrial saprotroph. Grows at forest edges, in parks, in forest glades, in deciduous and coniferous forests; according to some descriptions it prefers shade and avoids open pastures and fields.

Distribution. North America, Europe (common in Central Europe, including Poland), New Zealand; according to some descriptions also southern Africa (for the group of species). Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. No data.

What can it be confused with?

  • Chlorophyllum molybdites (the green-spored parasol; Polish: sinoblaszek trujący) — Strongly poisonous, not recorded in Poland so far but spreading in Europe; young fruiting bodies look identical. Spore print green (older gills slightly greenish), while in C. rhacodes it is white.
  • Chlorophyllum brunneum (Polish: czubajnik ogrodowy), Chlorophyllum olivieri (Polish: czubajnik ponury), Chlorophyllum venenatum — Often confused with C. rhacodes; C. brunneum and C. venenatum are poisonous according to some descriptions. Distinguishing features — no data.
  • Macrolepiota procera (the parasol mushroom; Polish: czubajka kania) — Stem with a zigzag (banded) pattern, flesh does not change colour when damaged, scales on the cap less erect, usually larger and more often in open areas.
  • Macrolepiota konradii (Polish: czubajka gwiaździsta) — Smaller; cap not shredded in the centre, scales adpressed, stem light brown with fine scales, flesh in the stem turns pink, then slowly brown.
  • Leucoagaricus nympharum (Polish: pieczareczka borowa) — Slimmer, more delicate fruiting body with white scales; flesh white, only slightly reddening when damaged.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

  • The spelling of the epithet "rachodes" is original but erroneous; the correct transcription of the Greek rhakos ("piece of cloth") is "rhacodes".
  • The species was moved to the genus Chlorophyllum in 2002 on the basis of molecular studies; it is more closely related to the poisonous C. molybdites than to the parasol mushroom.
  • The Polish name "czubajnik czerwieniejący" was recommended by the Commission for Polish Fungal Nomenclature in 2021.
  • Young fruiting bodies look the same as C. molybdites, which causes the most mushroom poisonings in North America.
Gribo does not assess edibility. Identification from a photo — also in the app — does not replace a mushroom expert.

Frequently asked questions

When does Shaggy Parasol grow?

According to observations in Poland (GBIF) the season is: August – November; most records fall in October.

Where does Shaggy Parasol grow?

Terrestrial saprotroph. Grows at forest edges, in parks, in forest glades, in deciduous and coniferous forests; according to some descriptions it prefers shade and avoids open pastures and fields.

In the Gribo app this species also has a 3D model you can rotate, photos in the quiz and warnings when identifying with the camera. See how to get started.