Agaricus augustus - The Prince

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Unfortunately far from common, this is one of the very finest of edible fungi (indeed, it truly deserves the title Prince of Mushrooms!); it usually appears in small groups in open woodland or beneath parkland trees, particularly conifers.

The Prince is exceptional among woodland mushrooms in being instantly recognisable from a distance; however, if you are ever in any doubt its bitter-almond odour provides additional assurance.

The specific epithet augustus is probably a reference to the month of August, when this mushroom is likely to be found. It was named by the Swedish botanist/mycologist Elias Fries, and I have indeed found Agaricus augustus in Sweden during August; however, it first appears rather earlier here in West Wales where I now live - often in early July.

When fully expanded, caps of The Prince can attain a diameter of 25 cm and occasionally more, but as these prized edible mushrooms are prone to maggot attack it is usually best to gather any you intend eating when their caps are at the stage illustrated in the picture above. The flesh has a firmer and more pleasant texture when the caps are only partly expanded.

Identification guide

Cap	10 to 25cm across (exceptionally 30cm) at maturity; initially hemispherical, becoming broadly convex; the cream surface is covered in large reddish-brown scales, increasingly dense towards the centre.
Gills	Free; pale pink, turning very dark purple-brown with age.
Stem	10 to 20cm long and 2 to 4cm dia.; large pendulous white ring; white surface is smooth above ring and has small woolly scales below.
Spore print	Purple-brown.
Odour/taste	Odour strong, of bitter almonds.
Habitat	Often in small groups in open woodland, particularly with conifers. This mushroom occurs in Northern Europe and in many parts of the USA; it has been introduce into Australia.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	A widespread but occasional find, often in small groups.
Similar species	Agaricus bernardii is slightly smaller; it occurs in coastal dune slacks.