Volvariella gloiocephala - Stubble Rosegill

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Amanita fungi are not the only ones that have a volva at the stem base; mushrooms in the genus Volvariella do so as well. Volvariella gloiocephala (syn. Volvariella speciosa) does indeed grow in fields where crops have been harvested to leave stubble (and it doesn’t have to be cereal crops; I have seen cleared cabbage fields dotted with hundreds of these large white mushrooms). Roadside verges and permanent pastures are also places where this handsome mushroom can appear.

Identification guide

Cap	8 to 14cm across; initially oval becoming convex but not often flattening completely; white, becoming cream and eventually ochre; sticky when moist, silkily smooth when dry.
Gills	Free; crowded; white at first, becoming pink.
	Stem 10 to 15cm long and 1 to 1.5cm dia.; white; tapering towards apex; no ring. There is a persistent bag-like volva (left) at the base.
Spore print	Pink.
Odour/taste	Not significant
Habitat	In nutrient-rich damp permanent pasture, roadside grassland and stubble fields; occasionally also where brassicas have been harvested.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Fairly common; often recurring in the same grassy areas for many years.
Similar species	Volvariella bombycina has a very silky (almost hairy) cap and a volva; it grows on damaged hardwood trees and on their dead trunks and large branches. Amanita virosa has a stem ring and occurs in woodland habitats.