Agaricus arvensis

Agaricus arvensis, commonly known as the horse mushroom, is a mushroom of the genus Agaricus.

Horse mushroom
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Agaricus
Species:
A. arvensis
Binomial name
Agaricus arvensis
Schaeff.
Agaricus arvensis
float
Mycological characteristics
gills on hymenium
cap is convex
hymenium is free
stipe has a ring
spore print is brown to blackish-brown
ecology is saprotrophic
edibility: choice

Taxonomy

It was described as Agaricus arvensis by Jacob Christian Schaeffer in 1762, and given numerous binomial descriptions since. Its specific name arvensis means 'of the field'.

Description
Agaricus arvensis showing (the so-called) 'cogwheel' on left-hand specimen

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 genus Amanita). 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.[1] It belongs to a group of Agaricus which tend to stain yellow on bruising.

Similar species
  • Agaricus osecanus is rare, and is without the aniseed smell.[2]
  • Agaricus xanthodermus, the yellow stainer, can cause stomach upsets.
  • Agaricus silvicola, the wood mushroom, is a touch more arboreal, with a frail and delicate ring, but also edible.
  • Agaricus campestris, the field mushroom, is generally (but not always) smaller, has pink gills when young, and is also edible.
  • Agaricus bitorquis, the spring agaricus, looks similar to arvensis and campestris, which are more common in the summer and autumn.
  • Agaricus bisporus is the more commonly cultivated mushrooms of the genus Agaricus.

Distribution and habitat

It is one of the largest white Agaricus species in Britain (where it appears during the months of July–November), West Asia (Iran)[3] and North America. Frequently found near stables, as well as in meadows, 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.[4]

Conservation

This mushroom is considered common and widespread, and is not a conservation concern.[5]

Edibility

Much prized by farmers for generations, the horse mushroom is regarded as 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 cadmium and copper.[5]

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See also
  • List of Agaricus species

References
  1. Miller, Orson. Mushrooms of North America. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1984.
  2. Roger Phillips (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. ISBN 0-330-44237-6.
  3. Asef Shayan MR. (2010). قارچهای سمی ایران (Qarch-ha-ye Sammi-ye Iran) [Poisonous mushrooms of Iran] (in Persian). Iran shenasi. p. 214. ISBN 978-964-2725-29-8.
  4. Lincoff, Gary. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. Chanticleer Press: New York, 1981.
  5. "Plants & Fungi: Agaricus arvensis (horse mushroom) - Species profile from". Kew. Archived from the original on 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
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