Fungus · GBIF taxon 2535581
Onion-stalk Parasol
Leucocoprinus cepistipesAlso known as Onion-stemmed Dapperling, Bulbous Parasol
Onion-stalk parasols emerge in delicate, pale clusters from rich compost, woodchips, and potting soil following summer rains. Their thin white caps start oval or conical before expanding into flattened umbrellas covered in fine, powdery scales. Beneath the fragile cap, a slender stalk widens dramatically into a swollen, onion-like bulb at the base that helps distinguish it from close relatives.
FungusSaprophyticUrban Wildlife
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Decaying wood
- Compost material
- Organic matter
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus gnats
- Rove beetles
ThreatsFungicide applications, soil compaction, disturbance of mulch beds
HabitatsMulched garden beds, compost piles, lawns, greenhouses, potted plants
Life spanFruiting bodies last 1–3 days; underground fungal network persists indefinitely
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyAgaricaceae
- GenusLeucocoprinus
- SpeciesLeucocoprinus cepistipes
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Toxic if ingested; many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes, so never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains unidentified toxins that cause severe gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and stomach cramps if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by a chalky white cap with delicate central scales and a distinctly swollen, bulbous base on the stem.
- What to do
- Safe to observe closely in place; wash hands if touched and keep small pets away from clusters.
Responsible observation
- Look at the base: Carefully inspect the stem base near the soil surface to see the bulbous onion-like shape.
- Search after rain: Look in freshly mulched garden beds and potted plants a day or two after heavy rainfall.
Toxic Look-alike (c) Amber M. King, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Amber M. King · cc-by
Distant Kin (c) Lucian Clanet, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lucian Clanet · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Zinogre, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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