Deadly dapperling vs parasol mushroom: the small scaly cap with amatoxins

Quick answer

The deadly dapperling is small, with a cap rarely over 2 inches, a short stem with pinkish brown scales, and only a cottony ring zone; the parasol is large, with a tall snakeskin-patterned stem and a thick, double-edged ring that slides up and down. Both have white gills and a white spore print.

Deadly lookalike

The deadly dapperling can be fatal.

Unlike the parasol mushroom, the deadly dapperling (Lepiota subincarnata) contains amatoxins, which stop protein production by blocking the enzyme RNA polymerase II. The University of British Columbia's Mushrooms Up! guide records abdominal pain, vomiting and watery diarrhea 6 to 12 hours (up to 36 hours) after eating; the symptoms ease after about a day, then return around 72 hours with signs of liver failure, and in fatal cases death follows 7 to 10 days after the first symptoms. In 1988 a man near Vancouver died after eating lawn mushrooms he took for fairy ring mushrooms.

If someone has eaten a wild mushroom and feels unwell, or may have eaten one of these, call poison control now: 1-800-222-1222 in the US. Do not wait for symptoms.

Side by side

The tell for each

Lepiota subincarnata

Photo coming

Deadly
Deadly DapperlingLepiota subincarnata

The tellSmall pale cap broken into concentric pinkish brown scales, white free gills, and a white spore print.

A tall parasol mushroom with a broad scaly cap, a loose ring and a snakeskin-patterned stem
Edible
Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

The tellTall, slender stem with a brown snakeskin pattern, a broad scaly cap with a dark central bump, and a thick movable ring.

How they differ

Differences between the deadly dapperling and the parasol mushroom
FeatureDeadly DapperlingParasol Mushroom
Cap sizeDeadly Dapperling0.75 to 2 inches (2 to 5 cm).Parasol Mushroom3 to 10 inches (7.5 to 25 cm).
Stem heightDeadly Dapperling1 to 2.5 inches (2.5 to 6 cm).Parasol Mushroom6 to 16 inches (15 to 40 cm).
Stem patternDeadly DapperlingSmall pinkish brown scales below the ring zone.Parasol MushroomBrown bands or scales like snakeskin.
RingDeadly DapperlingA faint, cottony ring zone; no membranous ring.Parasol MushroomA thick, double-edged ring that slides on the stem.
Cap scalesDeadly DapperlingConcentric pinkish brown to reddish brown scales on a pale background.Parasol MushroomBrown scales densest around a dark central bump.
HabitatDeadly DapperlingLawns, gardens, parks and leaf litter.Parasol MushroomOpen woods, woodland edges, pastures and grassy roadsides.

FAQ

Common questions

Which small lepiotas are deadly?

Several small Lepiota species contain amatoxins, including Lepiota subincarnata. The University of British Columbia's Mushrooms Up! guide warns that any small mushroom with free white gills and a pink-brown or brown scaly cap could contain amatoxins.

How big does a parasol mushroom get?

Caps reach 3 to 10 inches across on stems 6 to 16 inches tall. Small lepiotas are rarely more than 2 inches across.

Sources

Where these facts come from

  1. Lepiota subincarnata, deadly parasol (Mushrooms Up!)

    Beaty Biodiversity Museum, University of British Columbia

  2. Macrolepiota procera

    MushroomExpert.com

Keep checking

Read both pages in full

This page states what field guides record. It is not advice to eat, taste or handle anything, and a photo cannot settle edibility. If someone has eaten a wild mushroom that may be toxic, call poison control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) right away, before symptoms start: the deadliest species act hours later.

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