Parasol Mushroom
Lepiota procera
About August 22 I started finding Parasol mushrooms here and there. It took a few days to register that this was something better then an Amanita. I read that experienced people consider it a "choice" edible. Since I do not consider myself experienced, I will pass on consuming this mushroom. I recently corresponded with an experienced forager who mistook an Amanita for a Lepiota and discovered her mistake after dining on them with a friend. It is a very graceful mushroom.
Side view:
Notice movable "ring".
Top of cap:
Gills:
With close up of movable "ring".
Here is a cap of an older Parasol:
Morning dew on the cap.
August 22, 2005
Top
No ring on stem.
The edge of the cap had it.