Agaricus macrosporus

Agaricus macrosporus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Agaricaceae
Genus:	Agaricus
Species:	A. macrosporus
Binomial name
Agaricus macrosporus (F.H.Møller & Jul.Schff.) Pilát (1951)
Synonyms
Psalliota arvensis subsp. macrospora F.H.Møller & Jul.Schäff. (1938) Psalliota macrospora (F.H.Møller & Jul.Schäff.) F.H.Møller (1951) Agaricus albertii Bon (1988)

Agaricus macrosporus Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is convex
	Hymenium is free
	Stipe has a ring
	Spore print is purple-brown
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is edible

Agaricus macrosporus is a rare, edible mushroom found from June at wood fringes and in meadows.

Description

The white cap is hemispherical and white when young, but later flattens out up to 25 centimetres (10 inches) in diameter and becomes yellowish or tan. Its flesh is very thick. The gills are pinkish grey when young, and become brown with age. The spores measure 12 by 6 μm and are purplish-brown and almond-shaped. The stem is strong and thick, with a broad ring. It may measure 8 to 12 cm (3 to 4+1⁄2 in) in height and up to 3 cm in diameter.

The flesh is white with a mild taste and a smell of aniseed, turning slowly orange when cut.

Similar species

It is possible to confuse this mushroom with dangerous amanitas such as A. phalloides and A. pantherina.

Agaricus excellens differs by its taller and slimmer stipe which is striped lengthwise. Agaricus augustus does not have the pure white cap in young specimens.

See also

• List of Agaricus species

References

• Bon, Marcel (1987). The Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and North Western Europe. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-39935-X.
• E. Garnweidner. Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe. Collins. 1994.