Leucoagaricus rhodocephalus (Berk.) Pegler, Kew Bull. 30(3): 432 (1975) Index Fungorum number: IF 316798
Synonymy: Lepiota rhodocephala (Berk.) Sacc., Syll. fung. (Abellini) 5: 59 (1887)
:Mastocephalus rhodocephalus (Berk.) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pl. (Leipzig) 2: 860 (1891)
Pileus 6.4 cm wide, convex, expanded with broad obtuse umbo, grenadine (II b.7. R–O.), fading towards margins, cuticle easily peeling, flesh white. Gills pure white, unequal, free, sub–distant with smooth edges. Stipe 5.5 cm long and 1.8 cm wide white, cylindrical, equal with slight bulbous base. Annulus present, membranous, central.
Basidia 12.8–20.0 × 6.4–8.8 μm, broadly clavate, hyaline. Sterigmata 1.6 to 4.8 μm long. Basidiospores 2.4–8.8 × 1.6–4.0 μm, avL=5.6, avW=2.8, Q=1.5–2.2, ellipsoid, hyaline, dextrinoid, mono to biguttulated, apical pore absent. Cheilocystidia 19.2–22.4 × 8.0–11.2 μm, hyaline, thin walled, cylindrical to clavate. Pileus and stipe context hyphae 4.0 to 24.0 and 4.0 to 28.0 μm respectively, hyaline, septate.
Materials Examined: India, Jammu & Kashmir, Jammu, University Campus, humicolous, single, 13 Jul 2015, under Delonix regia, Roshi Sharma & Y.P. Sharma, HBJU 418.
Notes: The survey of literature reveals that the examined specimen has not been earlier reported from Jammu & Kashmir State. Hence, the present described species constitutes as a new record for the State.
FIGURE. b Pileus surface view of Leucoagaricus rhodocephalus in natural habitat. c Undersurface view of Leucoagaricus rhodocephalus showing pure white gills and bulbous base of stipe.
FIGURE.Leucoagaricus rhodocephalus a) basidia with attached basidiospores b) basidiospores c) cheilocystidia d) pileus context hyphae e) stipe context hyphae. Scale bars: a-e = 15 μm.