Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 5451931

Thiers' Lepidella

Amanita thiersii

Also known as White Shaggy Amanita

Thiers' lepidella stands out in open lawns and prairies with its ghostly white cap covered in soft, shaggy warts that easily rub off on your fingers. Unlike most Amanita species that form mutualistic partnerships with trees, this saprotrophic fungus feeds directly on decaying organic matter in grassy soil. It has steadily expanded its range northward across North America, thriving in sunny suburban lawns, pastures, and roadsides.

SaprophyteWhite MushroomLawn Fungi
Thiers' Lepidella reference
Licensed referenceThis image was created by user Brian Adamo (adamo588) at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images.You can contact this user here. / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Saprotrophic (decomposes grass roots and soil organic matter)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus gnats
  • Rodents
ThreatsHeavy lawn pesticide and fungicide application
HabitatsLawns, prairies, pastures, open grassy fields
Life spanFruiting body lasts 3–7 days; soil mycelium lives for years
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyAmanitaceae
  3. GenusAmanita
  4. SpeciesAmanita thiersii
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
Suspected toxic if ingested. Many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
Belongs to a fungal group containing known renal and gastrointestinal toxins, making ingestion dangerous.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize its all-white color, cottony cap warts, and solitary growth in open lawns or prairies.
What to do
Touch is harmless for study, but wash hands afterward and never consume wild mushrooms.
Responsible observation
  • Observe cap texture: Look for soft, powdery flakes that easily detach when touched.
  • Check the habitat: Note whether it is growing in open lawn grass rather than near tree roots.
  • Examine the stem: Look for the long, slender stipe covered in shaggy white veil fragments.
Related species
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