Earthy Powdercap: Red Data Book of Armenia

Category. VU– Vulnerable.

Brief description. Cap is 2–5 cm across yellowish, yellow–gold or light brown, at first expanding to flattened convex. There is a wide flat knob in the centre, sometimes covered with mealy surface often becoming indistinctly radially wrinkled with age and remnants of volva on the edges. Flesh is white or whitish, with yellowish colouring. It has unpleasant smell and mealy taste. Gills are white, when dry yellowish and adnexed to the stipe, crowded with thin, flat edges. There are also lamellae. Stipe is 3–5 x 4–8 cm long, whitish, cylindrical, stuffed, then empty with yellowish ring at the apex. The upper part of the ring is smooth, the lower part has the colour of the cap, and it is granular. Spore print is white. Spores are 5–7 x 3–4 µm colourless, smooth, ellipsoid.

Distribution. Generally in Europe, Asia, Northern and Southern America, Australia, Africa, Southern Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia). In Armenia it is found in Ijevan floristic region – in "Dilijan" National Park, in "Akhnabat yew" Reserve.

Ecological, biological and phytocenological peculiarities. It is met on the litter, in mixed woods on the altitude of 1700 m above sea level in September. Saprotrophic fungi on litter. The fruit bodies are edible, but they have no value.

Main factors of endangering. Change of natural habitats/biotopes caused by anthropogenic activity.

Nature conservation measures. It is conserved in corresponding ecosystems of "Dilijan" National Park.