Stropharia ambigua, sometimes known as the questionable Stropharia, is a saprotrophic agaric mushroom, commonly fruiting in leaf litter and wood chips in the Pacific Northwest.[1]
The cap is 3 to 15 cm (1+1⁄8 to 5+7⁄8 in) broad, obtuse to convex, becoming flat or uplifted in age; it has a smooth surface, is slimy when moist, and yellowish.[2] The edge may have bits of white veil hanging from it.[1] The flesh is white, thick, and soft. The gills are pale gray and gradually darkens to purplish-gray or purplish-black.[2] The gills occasionally pull away from the stipe with age.[3] The stipe is 6 to 18 cm (2+3⁄8 to 7+1⁄8 in) long, 1–2 cm wide[4] and is stuffed or hollow. It may have bits of white veil hanging from it and, less commonly, a brittle ring.[1] The veil is soft and white. The spore print is dark purplish to nearly black. The species fruits in the spring and fall.[2] It does not have a volva.[3] The species has been said to taste like old leaves.[5]
Alexander Hanchett Smith and Nancy S. Weber state that the species is not poisonous.[2] Contrarily, one source regards it as possibly poisonous.[6] Because of conflicting reports on its edibility, the authors David Arora, Orson K. Miller, Jr. and Hope Miller do not recommend eating the species.[3][7]
Stropharia ambigua appears in late fall as a solitary to scattered mushroom or in groups on rich humus, usually under conifers. It can also be found with alder and other hardwoods in the Pacific Coast.[5] It has frequently been found in disturbed areas, such as where wood was handled.[2] The species will colonize outdoor mushroom beds after wood chips have been decomposed by a primary saprotroph.[8] It favors a cold and damp environment.[3]
Similar species include Stropharia aeruginosa, S. coronilla,[4] S. riparia,[1] and S. semiglobata.[4]
Stropharia ambigua, sometimes known as the questionable Stropharia, is a saprotrophic agaric mushroom, commonly fruiting in leaf litter and wood chips in the Pacific Northwest.
