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Edibility
Choice
Lookalike Danger
3 / 5
Habitat
🌱 Grassy edges
Season
Jun – Oct
"Tall and elegant with a snake-pattern stem. Easily 12+ inches. A movable ring on the stem."
This species is found with or partners with the following hosts. Ectomycorrhizal hosts (green border) form a root-level partnership; ericoid / arbutoid shrubs (purple border) share the same mycorrhizal networks.

Old pasture and unimproved meadow — waxcap indicator habitat, meadow mushroom, fairy ring champignon, giant puffball.
Tall elegant mushroom with scaly brown cap (up to 12 inches!), white free gills, and a distinctive snakeskin-patterned stem with a movable double ring. Delicate nutty flavor — one of the best wild edibles when correctly identified.
Pastures, grassy woodland edges, and open meadows. Summer through fall. More common in Europe; found in the eastern US.
Min Soil Temp
58°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.5in 7d
Drought Tolerance
moderate
Elevation Range
0–8,000 ft
TOXIC. Green gill cap is similar but gills turn GREEN at maturity (parasol stays white). Causes violent GI distress.
Edible for most but GI upset in some. Shaggy parasol has a plainer stem (no snakeskin).
Always check for a movable ring AND no volva. Parasol has free ring and NO sack at base.
Grassy edges
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.