# Mushroom Identity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102 "2003-04-11T19:44:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElevatedSteve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3da27b/32.png) [@ElevatedSteve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElevatedSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/1 "2003-04-11T19:44:18Z")
Please help me identify these mushrooms. They showed up after I planted a sweet potato after it had started growing on my counter. Here’s a link to pictures: [http://www.elevatedsins.com/projects/mushrooms/index.html](http://www.elevatedsins.com/projects/mushrooms/index.html) The first batch that came up I removed. They had a strong “mushroom” odor and they felt pretty firm. I tried spraying an herbiside/fungiside, on them, but it doesn’t seem to do much good. First, do you think I should get rid of them at all? If so, how? Second, what kind are they? Also, does anybody know if there are any mushrooms that are poisonous to the touch? (When I removed the first ones I wore disposable gloves) Steven ---
**Author:** ![Amfet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Amfet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amfet)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/2 "2003-04-11T20:05:28Z")
Maybe try here… [http://www.agarics.org/Index.jsp](http://www.agarics.org/Index.jsp) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/3 "2003-04-11T20:13:13Z")
They look like some species of _Amanita_ to me (genus includes some of the most dangerously poisonous fungi), but my books only cover Britain & Northern Europe. ---
**Author:** ![ElevatedSteve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3da27b/32.png) [@ElevatedSteve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElevatedSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/4 "2003-04-11T20:33:35Z")
Thanks for the quick response, but I can’t seem to get into that site. I’ll try again later. (It just won’t come back with anything.) I did find this site: [http://www.ilmyco.gen.chicago.il.us/ima/](http://www.ilmyco.gen.chicago.il.us/ima/) I am currently looking through this site, but there is just so much information. I am already suspecting that I did not give enough info in my inital post to identify it. Steven ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/5 "2003-04-11T20:42:01Z")
[Recently while I was watering plants in my house i noticed, bright canary yellow mushrooms growing from the dirt…](http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/feb2002.html) The picture in that link doesn’t look exactly like yours, but some fungi are rather variable in appearance. ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/6 "2003-04-11T20:46:08Z")
They are probably _Leucocoprinus birnbaumii_ **The Yellow Greenhouse Mushroom**. Quite common and not particularly threatening. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/7 "2003-04-11T20:47:20Z")
Going on some of the descriptions in that article and the pictures further down of immature fruiting bodies (which I think all of those in your picture also are), I’m almost certain that it is _Leucocoprinus_. ---
**Author:** ![ChalkPit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@ChalkPit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChalkPit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/8 "2003-04-11T20:48:31Z")
Damn ! I must learn to type quicker ! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![ElevatedSteve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3da27b/32.png) [@ElevatedSteve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElevatedSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushroom-identity/168102/9 "2003-04-11T21:08:02Z")
Ok, I think we have found it! For completeness here are the important points: The name is Lepiota lutea This site: [http://http](http://http)://www.ilmyco.gen.chicago.il.us/ima/Taxa/Lepiolutea214.html#Main says that some older names are: Leucocoprinus birnbaumii and Leucocoprinus luteus They are common in potted plants They are not considered poisonous, but they might cause gastrointestinal upset in some people. And according to the site Mangetout linked to, Unless you are allergic to the mushroom in question, even the most deadly mushrooms can be handled with bare fingers. Thanks everyone, Steven