Horse Mushroom - Agaricus arvensis

Arvensis[1].jpg
Agaricus arvensis - Horse Mushroom.jpg
Common Name: 
Horse Mushroom
Scientific Name: 
Agaricus arvensis
Typical Size (mm): 
0mm
Cap Diameter (mm): 
80-200
Stem Height (mm): 
80-100
Stem Diameter (mm): 
20-30
Description: 

Large to massive agaric often found growing in rings or trooping groups on grassy soil within pastureland.

Cap: At first ovate maturing to convex and expanding, white or cream yellowing slightly with age or on bruising, smooth or finely scaled often with veil remnants at margin.

Flesh: White, firm and thick with smell of bitter almonds.

Gills: Free, broad, crowded at first pinky-grey then blackish browm.

Stem: White bruising yellow, smooth; ring large, fleshy, persistent, white with a distinctive cog-wheel pattern.

Spores: Blackish brown, ellipsoid, smooth.

Edibility: Good*

Habitat: 

Frequent, late summer to autumn forming fairy rings in fields and pastures

Additional Notes: 

*Care must be taken not to confuse this species with the poisonous A. xanthoderma.

Categories
Fungi Gill Type: 
Free
Fungi HymeniumType: 
Gills
Fungi Spore Print Colour: 
Brown
Fungi Stipe Character: 
Ring
Fungi Edibility: 
Tasty
Fungi Ecological Type: 
Saprotrophic
Habitats: 
Grassland
Habitats: 
Pastures