Thursday, March 4, 2010

Classification

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Basidiomycetes

Subclass: Agaricomycetidae

Order: Agaricales

Family: Tricholomataceae

Genus: Collybia

Species: Agaricus tuberosis

Geographic Range

Agaricus tuberosis is found throughout the east coast of North America. It’s primarily in the southern states such as Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. The Mushrooms commonly occurs during the fall and winter months. www.wikipedia.com

Habitat

Agaricus tuberosis can be found in forests ranging from spruce to beech and pine. Usually located on the ground, it can grow on top of pine needles and leaves. It can grow both on its own and in small clusters or groups.

Physical Description

Cap: 2-10 mm, convex with a somewhat inrolled margin when young, becoming broadly convex to flat, with a central depression; dry or moist; more or less smooth; sometimes lined on the margin; whitish.

Gills: Attached to the stem; close or almost distant; whitish or pale pinkish.

Stem: 1-5 cm long; about 1 mm thick; more or less equal; dry; often minutely dusted at the apex and/or base; whitish to pinkish; becoming hollow; attached to sclerotia which are tear-shaped or elliptical, reddish brown, and measure 3-12 x 2-5 mm. www.mushroomexpert.com

Reproduction: general behavior

This mushroom is asexual and produces spores. The spores are 4-6 x 3-3.5 µ, smooth, elliptical, and18-32 µ long. They are cylindrical, with occasional lobes or projections.

Lifespan

One month

Food Habits

This mushroom feeds on dead and decaying mushrooms. This is how they grow and prosper.

Predation

They are virtually untouched because they are so small that most animals would not want them.

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