Agaricus Mushroom in Bukit Timah

Why oh why are mushrooms so hard to ID!
Coming down from my trekking, near to the beginning of the Summit Trial, one can find 2 logs, and on a good damp day, it will be covered with mushrooms.

Today is no exception, I find it intriguing that one log was covered with these white fungus, and somehow the other log was pretty much spared.

Taking some close up, I believe these are the Lepiota (sp), or commonly called the Parasol Mushroom.
(somehow I can hear some giggling over this name, isn't it obvious that mushrooms usually look like parasol. Good Question which I have no answer)

So these are some of the close-ups of this species.
From the pictures, one can see the various stages of development.
With the young mushrooms with undeveloped caps just emerging from the log, to the fully bloom mature adults.

The cap of this species is rather thin, that the gills from the underside can be seen.
The stipe itself is relatively thin, with the annulus forming at midpoint.
I thought this could be a Marasmius, but then the stipe is quite long!
Or a Hygrophorus, but then the stipe is too thin!
So my conclusion that this is probably a Leipiota.

Taken from underneath, the annulus on the right specimen is pretty obvious, and the evidence of the thin cap to produce this highlighted shot.

A side view of this same specimen.

Alas, from experience, these mushrooms will disappear in about a week time, leaving behind brownish patches, and nutrients for the next generation to sprout!

Another Giant Agaricus in Bukit Timah

Where there is dead log and plenty of moisture, one is guaranteed to see fungi.
Today, having finished my climb in Bt Timah, and returning to the Dairy Farm Car Park, I chanced upon this Giant Agaricus in the male toilet.

From initial observation,

• it has a rather deep depression in the centre where the stipe (stem) is located 
• the cap is very unusual, in that it flows down like a skirt
• the stipe is very short for such a big pileus (cap)

Again, I tried to ID this specimen, and the only conclusion I have is that it is a gilled mushroom of the Agaricales Order.
Initial ID seems to place this in the family of the Brittle Cap, but those have long stipes, whereas this does not!

Does this specimen belongs to the Brittle Cap family?  To me, it is more like a bottle cap!

Placing a ruler, the cap spread across almost 13 cm!

Taking the underside, shows that the gills reach to the end of the cap.

Naturally, how does one justify a 13 cm size specimen to be a giant, well I looked around and saw couple of the same species growing around, and the spread of the cap was about 5 cam.

Two specimens here, with one already badly damaged.  Otherwise, the cap spread is about 5 cm.

 Once again, if anybody can ID this species, please do let me know.

Gigantic Agaricus Mushroom

In Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, it is very easy for anyone to see fungi of many shapes, colours and sizes. However, on one such walk, I came across this huge mushroom.
How big? See my handphone which I have placed next to the stipe (stem)!

As I tried to dig further into its ID, I believe that this is most probably from Agaricus sp, as the underside shows the gill.

Another picture of this huge one without the phone to spoil the shot.

 To those who are familiar with Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, look at the background - can you see the road!

TWO Days Later
I went to look for this specimen again, hoping to take better picture with flash now that I have freshly charged the battery.

This specimen has started to spread its cap.

Though there is a little budge in the centre of the stipe, othrewise it is pretty constant in the diameter! 

The scales are found more towards the edges

The Gills as can be seen is not white, tends towards the brownish blackish side.

I have a strong hunch that this could be Amanita sculpta as in other literature, it was mentioned that this species can grow very large.

FOUR Days Later
Went trekking again, and once again I was monitoring on the progress of this specimen.

Between Day 2 and 4, there has not been much changes to this specimen.

SIX Days Later
I went back to check on this specimen, alas - only part of the stem was left.

From the look of it, it did not wither but rather it fell into some form of mischief from the foot of someone.
I hunt around for the cap, and was not able to find it.
Hoping that the spores would have spread somewhere, and soon another of this giant can be found.

If anyone who view this blog knows the ID of this Agaricus, appreciate if you can drop me a note.
Thanks