Lepiota Species Research Articles

Poisoning due to amatoxin‐containing Lepiota species

Twenty-seven consecutive mushroom poisoning cases were followed up over a period of 14 days. Fourteen out of 27 died of liver failure. There were no deaths from renal failure. The mushrooms were identified as the amatoxin-containing Lepiota species. Therapeutic measures included nasogastric lavage, charcoal, vitamin C, vitamin B, penicillin G, corticosteroids, oral streptomycin and, in the case of a few patients, limited amounts of thioctic acid. Of the ten haemodialysed, nine died. Unfortunately charcoal haemoperfusion was not available. It appeared that therapeutic measures were ineffective and it also seemed that the amount of mushroom ingested was the determining factor for the prognosis. An important point to make is that renal failure does not occur and liver failure is always delayed (group II). For this reason all suspected cases of mushroom poisoning, regardless of absence of clinical signs and symptoms, must be hospitalised for a period of at least one week. The poisonous properties of wild mushrooms have been recognized since ancient times. However, despite awareness of their inherent dangers, serious poisoning continues to occur. Fatal intoxications can be attributed almost entirely to the amtoxin-containing species. Amanita phalloides have been blamed for over 90% of poisoning deaths in North America. There are reports of intoxications of other amatoxin-containing species in Europe, but fatalities due to Lepiota species are reported only rarely. It was previously acknowledged that the interval between ingestion of mushrooms and the onset of symptoms is longer than expected in serious poisonings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Preliminary study of fungal spores by pyrolysis-gas chromatography

Fungal spores of 32 different species were examined by pyrolysis-gas chromatography. Protein extracts of cap, stalk, gills or tubes different parts of Agaricales were analysed by electrophoresis. It was found that the most interesting traces were those representing the different sporuliferae parts of the fungus. Although still preliminary, the results show in general that the pyrograms provide characteristic “fingerprint” information, e.g., for two different varieties of Amanita and Russula. Other pyrograms, e.g., from some Boletus and Lepiota species, were similar to each other and it was impossible to observe significant differences.

Congo red for instant distinction between poisonous Lepiota molybdites and edible L. brunnea

The spores of Lepiota species close to L. procera stain totally in ammoniacal congo red, whereas most mature spores of L. molybdites take up little or none of the orange color.

A New Species of Lepiota

SUMMARYLepiota luteophylla, a species of Lepiota belonging in section Ovisporae and having a regular fruiting pattern, is described as new.

Noteworthy Species of Lepiota and Lactaria

The species of Lepiota described in this article were collected under Monterey Cypress trees (Cupressus macrocarpa) on Point Lobos which is located south of Carmel Bay in Monterey Co., California. My primary purpose in going to Point Lobos was to determine what species of Russula or Lactaria might be found growing in this habitat. However, throughout the season from October to May no species of either genus appeared. But there was an abundance of several species of Lepiota from February through April, most interesting of which were the following:

Noteworthy Species of Lepiota and Lactaria

Noteworthy Species of Lepiota and Lactaria

North American Species of Lepiota (Continued)

North American Species of Lepiota (Continued)

North American Species of Lepiota (Continued)

North American Species of Lepiota (Continued)

North American Species of Lepiota

North American Species of Lepiota