Field Mushroom

Description:

The cap is white, may have fine scales, and is 5 to 10 centimetres (2.0 to 3.9 in) in diameter; it is first hemispherical in shape before flattening out with maturity. The gills are initially pink, then red-brown and finally a dark brown, as is the spore print. The 3 to 10 centimetres (1.2 to 3.9 in) tall stipe is predominately white and bears a single thin ring. The taste is mild. The white flesh bruises slightly reddish, as opposed to yellow in the inedible (and somewhat toxic) Agaricus xanthodermus and similar species. The spores are 7–8 by 4–5 µm, and ovate. Cheilocystidia are absent. Similar species: ---Amanita virosa (and similar, closely related species), the destroying angel (morbidly toxic). ---Agaricus xanthodermus, the yellow stainer (causes gastrointestinal problems). ---Agaricus arvensis, the horse mushroom (excellent edible). ---White Clitocybe species, that also grow on lawns, and in grassy places (dangerous).

Habitat:

Agaricus campestris is common in fields and grassy areas after rain from late summer onwards worldwide. It is often found on lawns in suburban areas. Appearing in small groups, in fairy rings, or solitary. Owing to the demise of horse drawn vehicles, and the subsequent decrease in the number of horses on pasture, the old 'white outs' of years gone by are becoming rare events. This species is rarely found in woodland

Notes:

Agaricus campestris is commonly known as the field mushroom or, in North America, meadow mushroom. It is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely related to the cultivated button mushroom Agaricus bisporus