Cap
|
This is one of the largest mushrooms in the
genus: the caps of Agaricus arvensis mature at 8 to 20 cm
diameter. White, smooth or finely scaly, the cap is initially spherical
and expands until it is flat or nearly so. The thick flesh is white and
firm. Old caps often take on a yellow-brown tinge. |
Gills
|
At first pale pink, darkening and then
becoming brown, the gills are free and crowded. |
Stipe
|
Up to 10 cm tall, the parallel stem usually
a small bulb at its base and a robust, double ring with a cog-wheel form
on the underside.
The solid stem is smooth above the ring but sometimes finely scaly
below. Its diameter ranges from 2 to 3 cm. |
Spore print
|
Dark purple-brown. |
Odour/taste
|
Taste not distinctive. Strong odour of
aniseed. |
Habitat
|
In manured meadows and beside bridle paths
and other places where there is plenty of decaying horse manure. |
Season
|
August to November. |
Occurrence
|
Frequent. |
Similar species
|
- The poisonous Yellow Stainer, Agaricus
xanthodermus, quickly turns bright chrome yellow when cut or
bruised, and it smells of iodine or ink rather than of aniseed.
|
