Agaricus altipes
Agaricus altipes (F.H. Møller) Pilát
Agaricaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Cap at first conical or semi-globose, then convex to umbobate, with a wide central boss, 4–8 cm in diameter, whitish, pale yellowish, scaly in the centre. Gills free, narrow, whitish, pink to black brown, with a light sterile margin. Stipe cylindrical, slightly widened at base, 8–12 × 1–2 cm, white, then yellowish brown, finely fibrillose and furrowed; above with a thin, white ring soon falling off. Flesh white, becoming pink at the top and red brownish at the base of the stipe. Spores ellipsoid or ovoid-ellipsoid, 6–8 × 3.5–4.5 µm, light brown, smooth. Fruit-bodies single or in small groups.VII–X.
Habitats and populations. In coniferous forests, rarely in deciduous, on sandy soils.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt – above Kladnitsa), Rhodopi Mts (Central – Orfeevi Skali locality, Smolyan district), Mt Strandzha (W from Indzhe Voivoda village).
General distribution. Europe (Bulgaria, Belarus, Denmark, Germany, Russia, Ukraine).
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by selective logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, fires, etc.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. The species is within Vitosha and Strandzha Nature Parks and in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study on the population numbers and range; species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Gyosheva & Dimcheva 1991; Gyosheva et al. 2000, 2006.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
