Agaricus aroma

[NickCantle]

Hello

Well I stumbled across this absolutely stunning Agaricus t'other day.









When I saw it poking up through the soil from the path about 10yds away, I rushed to it. To be totally honest, I didn't really know what it was- apart from it was obviously part of the Agaricus genus. I've had a fair bit of luck and experience in finding Agaricus, so I'm generally rather confident- but I had my doubts about this one. I've seen The Prince many a time and I thought though the cap had the same scale/cap pattern, the colour was wrong- it wasn't quite yellow/gold enough. Agaricus Arvensis even crossed my mind briefly. So I photographed it, and then picked it to have a look. Didn't really bruise yellow (Which is what originally swayed me from a. moelleri) but I remember thinking - "If this thing smells of almond, I am stumped" So I broke off the cap and there was the distinctive and faint aroma of ink- not dislike Agaricus xanthodermus. It was this aroma that brought all of the other features together for me to draw a mycological conclusion (cor that sounds good doesn't it? )...

Sorry to dribble on, but what I wanted to say to the people that are relatively unconfident with Agaricus, GIVE IT A SNIFF! It's a defining feature of this genus, and it might just assist your identification

Nick

[CapAndBracket]

Way more intersting than anything i have found.

Cheers J.P.

[fairplay]

Yes, yes, yes Nick, but what was your mycological conclusion ?

Neil.

[fairplay]

There would appear to be a lot of uncertainty with this species, in Fungi of Switzerland it is called Agaricus praeclaresquamosus = A. placomyces
=A. meleagris

However,in M Jordon's book it is listed as A. moelleri = A. praeclaresquamosus = Psalliota meleagris

Whichever name is correct your fungus comes under the xanthodermus complex so you were as near as damm it !!

Strange this is not included in Phillips.

Neil.

[NickCantle]

It is in Phillips Neil under Agaricus moelleri. It has a footnote which reads;

"In my first book I used the name that this fungus was then known by, Agaricus placomyces"

Nick

[fairplay]

So it is, serves me right for rushing into print !!

Neil.

[sarah64]

Yo Nick, nice find. Its not edible is it?
Sarah

[NickCantle]

Hello again Sarah Hope all's well with you

Well, if you love the taste of ink, go for it- but I don't think it's advisable Not edible at all- like eating a Parker Pen

[sarah64]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Hello again Sarah Hope all's well with you

Well, if you love the taste of ink, go for it- but I don't think it's advisable Not edible at all- like eating a Parker Pen

Howdy Nick, things good here, hope you's okay too mate!!
I don't fancy the taste of ink, They look very similar to something i've found in the woods before in previous years.

[NickCantle]

I'm great thank you Sarah I'm in a really great mood actually, my favourite birds in the garden have had chicks (if interested, see this thread - Red-Legged Partridge has had babies!!!

As for the Agaricus, it could be confused with the Wood Mushroom I guess...and maybe The Prince. As I said though, a sniff of it would sort it

Nick