yellow fieldcap
Bolbitius titubans
The cap is deliquescent, meaning it literally melts away into a gooey mess as it matures to release its spores.
- Scientific name
- Bolbitius titubans
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Basidiomycota › Agaricomycetes › Agaricales › Bolbitiaceae › Bolbitius
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Lawns, meadows, pastures, and woodchip mulch.
- Diet
- Saprobic; decomposes dung and rotting grass.
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia, North Africa
- Size
- Cap 2-5 cm wide; Stem 5-10 cm tall.
- Lifespan
- 24 hours
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss through intensive industrial farming and excessive fungicide application.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch but very fragile. Inedible; do not consume as it may be confused with toxic species. Best enjoyed through a lens before it wilts by midday.
Bolbitius titubans , also known as Bolbitius vitellinus , is a widespread species of inedible mushroom found in America and Europe. It grows chiefly on dung or heavily fertilized soil, and sometimes on grass.
Photo: Tim Messick, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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