Leucoagaricus meleagris

It was first described in 1799 by the British mycologist James Sowerby who classified it as Agaricus meleagris and illustrated it in volume II of 'Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms'.[3] Sowerby stated that the specimens were found in a hot-bed by Lady Arden on May 24 1798.[4]

In 1821 the species was reclassified as Gymnopus meleagris by the British mycologist Samuel Frederick Gray and the common name Turkey-fowl naked-foot was suggested.[5]

In 1887 it was reclassified as Lepiota meleagris by the Italian mycologist Pier Andrea Saccardo.[6]

In 1891 it was included in the German botanist Otto Kunze's exhaustive list of reclassifications as Mastocephalus biornatus,[7] however Kunze's Mastocephalus genus, along with most of 'Revisio generum plantarum' was not widely accepted by the scientific community of the age and so this classification was not accepted and nothing remains in this genus.

In 1936 it was reclassified as Hiatula meleagris by the German mycologist Rolf Singer[8] and then as Leucocoprinus meleagris by Marcel Locquin in 1945.[9] In 1949 Singer reclassified it as Leucoagaricus meleagris.[10]

Leucoagaricus meleagris is a small dapperling mushrooms with white flesh in the cap and brown flesh in the stem.[15]

Cap: 2-4.5cm wide, starting hemispherical before expanding to campanulate (bell shaped) then plano-convex with a broad umbo. The surface background is white and covered with brownish-red coarse fibrils and scales. The surface discolours to a dirty red with age or when bruised. This can occur just from handling it. Stem: 6-8cm long with a clavate taper up from the slightly wider base. The surface is white with a fibrillose coating and also discolours brownish-red when old or bruised. The white, ascending stem ring has reddish scales on the underside and is located towards the top of the stem (superior) but it may disappear. Gills: Free, crowded and white but discolouring like the rest of the mushroom so may be yellowish or brownish with age. Spore print: White. Spores: Ellipsoid with a somewhat thick wall and tiny germ pore. Smooth. Hyaline. Dextrinoid. 8-11 x 6-8 μm. Basidia: Four spored. Taste: Slightly farinaceous (floury). Smell: Indistinct.[15][16]

Leucoagaricus meleagris Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is campanulate or convex
	Hymenium is free
	Stipe has a ring
	Spore print is white
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is unknown

Leucoagaricus meleagris grows in small groups and tufts in the Autumn. It is reported as being widespread but rarely recorded in the United Kingdom.[15] In the early taxonomy of this species the observations are from greenhouses and amongst bark beds in hothouses so it may be more common in these warm environments. It has also been documented more recently from woodchips in England[17] and Skåne, Sweden[18] as well as in greenhouses in Warsaw, Poland.[16] Observations of it appear to be uncommon in Europe with the most common locations for purported observations being the East Coast of the United States.[19]

• Leucoagaricus americanus may appear similar, grow in the same human-made environments and exhbits similar yellow and then red staining when handled. These species may be confused in books.[18] Leucoagaricus meleagris can be distinguished by the smaller size of the mushrooms and different cap surface.[20]