The Lepiotas

This large, diverse, widespread group of mushrooms' species all have white gills free from the stalk, a ring or skirt around the stalk, and white spores, similar to amanitas, many of which are deadly. Also, there are choice edible and deadly lepiotas, so this is not a group for inexperienced mushroomers to serve for dinner.

How do you tell the two groups apart? The lepiotas are decomposers, while the amanitas are commensual, trading nutrients with trees, but that doesn't provide visible means to differentiate them.

The lepiotas' rings, however, detach from the stalk, so you can slide them up and down like a napkin ring. Amanita rings are more delicate -- they break if you try to detach them.

Also, lepiotas are often comparatively tall and slender, while amanitas are short and squat -- not something you'll notice until after you've seen many representative species of both groups.

The edible lepiota species are among the best of mushrooms, with strong, earthy flavors and firm textures -- excellent meat substitutes -- that you can cook with almost any method. Cook them 15 to 20 minutes.

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