''Bolbitius titubans'', also known as ''Bolbitius vitellinus'', and commonly known as the sunny side up
is a widespread species of
mushroom
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. ''Toadstool'' generally refers to a poisonous mushroom.
The standard for the n ...
found in North America. It grows on grass and dung.
Description
The
mushroom cap
In mycology (the branch of biology that includes the study of mushrooms and other fungi), the pileus is the cap or cap-like part of a basidiocarp or ascocarp (fungal fruiting body) that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium.Moore-Landeck ...
is across,
and grows from egg-shaped when young to broadly convex, finally ending up nearly flat.
The cap's color starts yellow or bright yellow, and fades to whitish or greyish with age. The stem is tall and wide,
whitish-yellow with a fine mealy powdering, and very delicate.
The fragile and soft
gills
A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
are free from the stem or narrowly attached and fade from whitish or pale yellowish to rusty cinnamon with age.
They produce a rusty-brown
spore print
300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing warm orange ("tussock") color spore print. ...
.
The
spores
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plant ...
are brown, elliptical, and smooth.
Similar species
Similar species include ''
Bolbitius aleuriatus'',
,
''B. lacteus'', and ''
Conocybe apala
''Conocybe apala'' is a basidiomycete fungus and a member of the genus ''Conocybe''.
The species has been taxonomically reclassified a number of times. Until recently, it was also commonly called ''Conocybe lactea'' or ''Conocybe albipes'' and ...
''.
Habitat and distribution
The species grows on grass, woodchips, compost, and dung. It is ubiquitous in North America
and Europe.
Edibility
The mushroom's edibility is unknown.
While nonpoisonous,
it is too small to be worthwhile.
References
Bolbitiaceae
Fungus species
{{Agaricales-stub