Paul Stamets with Leucoagaricus leucothites and Victoria and Ian Watson

As you can imagine, my friends often come to me with mushroom identification questions. Here Ian and Victoria saw groups of white mushrooms popping up and speckling their yard. I laughed when I saw what they had found, as this species is an old friend.

This “White Spored Agaricus”, so named as Leucoagaricus leucothites was once called Leucoagaricus naucinus or Lepiota naucina. Looking like the classic chocolate-brown spored Agaricus, this close look-alike species has white spores hence the prefix "leuco". But beware: this mushroom could be dangerous – as it can be confused with the deadly white spored Amanitas. So, I caution people not to collect and eat them for fear that they may later mistakenly mix up their identifications. Another species that could be confused with Leucoagaricus leucothites is Chlorophyllum molybdites, also potentially deadly but it has dull greenish spores.

Nevertheless, this species is a fairly good edible, and cuts and cooks nicely. But I suggest only experts imbibe – there are many other easy-to-identify species which are less risky.

Once it grows in your yard or in grassy areas, it can be resident for years. The grass is healthier and greener as it decomposes to release nutrients.

Medicinal properties? All mushrooms are medicinal, in my opinion, we just have not yet found their medical applications.

Be safe. Error on the side of caution. But keep dancing joyously in the fields of mushrooms.

Filming by Pamela Kryskow, MD