Agaricus arvensis
Encyclopedia
Agaricus arvensis, commonly known as the Horse Mushroom, is a mushroom
of the genus Agaricus
.
The cap
is similar to that of Agaricus campestris
(The Field Mushroom). The gills are white at first (when this fungus is most often confused with deadly Amanita
genus). They later pass through grey and brown to become dull chocolate. There is a large spreading ring, white above but sometimes with yellowish scales underneath. Viewed from below, on a closed cap specimen, the twin layered ring has a well-developed 'cogwheel' pattern around the stipe. This is the lower part of the double ring. The odor is described as like anise
. It belongs to a group of Agaricus
which tend to stain yellow on bruising.
Frequently found near stables, as well as in meadows, where it may form fairy rings, the mushroom is often found growing with nettles (a plant that also likes nutrient-rich soil). It is sometimes found associated with spruce
.
and copper
.
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
of the genus Agaricus
Agaricus
Agaricus is a large and important genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with possibly over 300 members worldwide...
.
Taxonomy
Described as Agaricus arvensis by Jacob Christian Schaeffer in 1762, and given numerous binomial descriptions since. Its present name arvensis means 'of the field'.Description
Pileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
is similar to that of Agaricus campestris
Agaricus campestris
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.-Taxonomy:...
(The Field Mushroom). The gills are white at first (when this fungus is most often confused with deadly Amanita
Amanita
The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own...
genus). They later pass through grey and brown to become dull chocolate. There is a large spreading ring, white above but sometimes with yellowish scales underneath. Viewed from below, on a closed cap specimen, the twin layered ring has a well-developed 'cogwheel' pattern around the stipe. This is the lower part of the double ring. The odor is described as like anise
Anise
Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
. It belongs to a group of Agaricus
Agaricus
Agaricus is a large and important genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with possibly over 300 members worldwide...
which tend to stain yellow on bruising.
Similar Species
- Agaricus osecanus. Which is rare, and is without the aniseed smell.
- Agaricus xanthodermusAgaricus xanthodermusAgaricus xanthodermus, commonly known as the yellow-staining mushroom, is a mushroom of thegenus Agaricus, which displays a strong yellow colouration at the base of the stem when cut...
. (The Yellow Stainer), which can cause stomach upsets. - Agaricus silvicolaAgaricus silvicolaAgaricus silvicola, also known as the Wood Mushroom is a species of Agaricus mushroom related to the button mushroom.- Description :...
. (The Wood Mushroom), which is a touch more arboreal, with a frail and delicate ring, but also edible. - Agaricus campestrisAgaricus campestrisAgaricus 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.-Taxonomy:...
, (The Field Mushroom), which is generally (but not always) smaller, has pink gills when young, and is also edible. - Agaricus bisporus, a more commonly cultivated mushroom of the Agaricus genus.
Distribution and habitat
It is one of the largest white Agaricus species in Britain, West Asia (Iran) and North America.Frequently found near stables, as well as in meadows, where it may form fairy rings, the mushroom is often found growing with nettles (a plant that also likes nutrient-rich soil). It is sometimes found associated with spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
.
Conservation
This mushroom is considered common and widespread, and is not a conservation concern.Edibility
Much prized by farmers and gypsies for generations, the 'Horse Mushroom' is one of the most delicious edible fungi, although the fruitbodies of this and other yellow-staining Agaricus species often have a build-up of heavy metals such as cadmiumCadmium
Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, bluish-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Similar to zinc, it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and similar to mercury it shows a low...
and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
.