Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 8659282

Fragile Dapperling

Leucocoprinus fragilissimus

Also known as Fragile Parasol

Fragile dapperlings produce remarkably delicate, pale yellow to whitish caps with deep radial grooves and paper-thin flesh. Emerging from rich organic debris, greenhouse soil, or damp leaf litter in tropical and warm temperate forests, these fleeting mushrooms often collapse within hours of expanding. Their translucent caps reveal thin gills beneath, making them striking yet fleeting indicators of humid, nutrient-rich microhabitats.

FleetingDelicateForest Fungus
Fragile Dapperling reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Anne Parker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Anne Parker · 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 & prey
  • Decomposing plant matter
  • Leaf litter
  • Woody debris
Predators
  • Fungal gnats
  • Slugs
  • Springtails
ThreatsHabitat destruction, forest degradation
HabitatsTropical and subtropical forests, leaf litter, greenhouses, potted soil
Life spanA few hours to one day
Classification
  1. FamilyAgaricaceae
  2. SpeciesLeucocoprinus fragilissimus
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 with dangerous look-alikes; never eat wild mushrooms based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
Ingestion may cause severe gastrointestinal distress, and distinguishing it from deadly Lepiota species requires expert analysis.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a paper-thin, translucent pale yellow cap with deep radial grooves on a threadlike stem.
What to do
Do not gather or ingest; leave the fragile mushroom undisturbed in its habitat.
Responsible observation
  • Timing: Look early in the morning before the frail cap collapses under heat or sun.
  • Handling: Avoid touching the mushroom directly because the paper-thin flesh tears easily.
  • Habitat Spotting: Search in damp leaf litter or greenhouse pots after warm rainfall.
Related species
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