Fauna
Fungus

Stinking Dapperling

Lepiota cristata

Also known as Brown-eyed Parasol, Stinking Parasol

Stinking dapperlings sprout in disturbed soils, manicured lawns, and woodland borders throughout late summer and autumn. Their caps feature concentric reddish-brown scales that break apart over a pale background, radiating outward from an intact central disc. A pungent, foul odor resembling burnt rubber or coal gas immediately sets them apart from harmless woodland look-alikes.

FungusForestDecomposer
Stinking Dapperling reference1 / 7
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySaprotrophic (decomposes leaf litter and decaying plant organic matter)
Predators
  • Fungus Gnat Larvae
  • Slugs
  • Springtails
ThreatsHabitat clearance, excessive lawn herbicide use, and soil contamination
HabitatsDeciduous and coniferous woods, parklands, gardens, and grassy paths
Life spanMycelium lives for years; individual fruit bodies last 4–8 days
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyAgaricaceae
  3. GenusLepiota
  4. SpeciesLepiota cristata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains dangerous toxins and has toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
Contains poisonous peptides and gastrointestinal toxins that cause severe abdominal cramps, vomiting, and potential organ stress if swallowed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by small caps with concentric reddish-brown scales, free white gills, and a sharp burnt-rubber chemical odor.
What to do
Observe and photograph in place without ingesting or touching mouth or eyes after contact.
Responsible observation
  • Scent Check: Gently waft the air around an intact cap to notice its distinctive burnt rubber aroma.
  • Spore Print: Lay a mature cap gill-side down on dark paper overnight to reveal its white spore deposit.
Related species
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