Lyophyllum decastes
Introduction '''''Lyophyllum decastes''''', commonly known as the '''fried chicken mushroom''', or '''chicken of the gravel,''' is an edible (when cooked) species of fungus in the family Lyophyllaceae that grows in clusters on disturbed ground, often near man-made roads in gravel, with a faintly radish-like taste.
Description The caps are smooth, varied in color, and range from  wide. The whitish-grayish stalks are  long and  wide. The spores are white.Gills are white but may yellow slightly with age. The firm flesh remains white on exposure.
Ecology Growing in dense, even huge clusters on the ground, ''L. decastes'' is usually found where the ground has been disturbed such as roadbeds, gravel, paths, landscaping areas, and sometimes in woods.
Range Prolific in summer and fall until spring on the U.S. West Coast, it is widely distributed in North America and Europe.
Edibility This species is considered edible and good, but should be tried with caution due to some reports of gastric upset, as well as the possibility of confusing it with poisonous ''Entoloma'' species or ''Clitocybe dilatata''. The similar species ''Lyophyllum loricatum'' is also edible.
Similar species ''Lyophyllum decastes'' is similar in appearance to the toxic species ''Leucocybe connata'', ''Clitocybe dilatata'', and those of the ''Entoloma'' genus. ''Lyophyllum semitale'' and ''Pluteus petasatus'' are also similar in appearance.''L. fumosum'' is also similar; it and ''L. loricatum'' are sometimes grouped with ''L. decastes'' owing to a lack of distinct features.
References
Further reading *Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (1991). ''Fungi of Switzerland.'' Volume 3: Boletes and Agarics (1st Part). Strobilomycetaceae, Boletaceae, Paxillaceae, Gomphidiaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Tricholomataceae, Polyporaceae (lamellate). Verlag Mykologia: Luzern, Switzerland. p. 361. *Moncalvo, J.-M. , Rehner, S. A. & Vilgalys, R. (1993). "Systematics of Lyophyllum Section Difformia Based on Evidence from Culture Studies and Ribosomal DNA Sequences". ''Mycologia 85''(5): 788–794.
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