''Agaricus californicus'', commonly known as the California agaricus, is a poisonous mushroom in the
section
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''Xanthodermati'' of the genus ''
Agaricus
''Agaricus'' is a genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with over 400 members worldwide and possibly again as many disputed or newly-discovered species. The genus includes the common ("button") mushroom (''Agaricus bisp ...
''.
It is mildly
poisonous
Poison is a chemical substance that has a detrimental effect to life. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broa ...
, causing gastrointestinal upset in many individuals. The
etiology
Etiology (pronounced ; alternatively: aetiology or ætiology) is the study of causation or origination. The word is derived from the Greek (''aitiología'') "giving a reason for" (, ''aitía'', "cause"); and ('' -logía''). More completely, e ...
of these symptoms is unclear and some individuals can eat it without experiencing symptoms, but since there is no way to tell who can eat the mushroom safely it is generally recommended against.
Description
The caps are wide, white, sometimes with a grayish-tan center, dry, and either unchanged or yellowing slightly when bruised.
The stalk is long and 1–2 wide, perhaps larger at the base.
The spores are brown and smooth.
Differentiating ''A. californicus''
''Agaricus californicus'' is similar in general appearance to many other ''Agaricus'' species, especially to
''A. arvensis'',
,
''A. campestris'',
, and which are commonly collected for the table. Since ''A. californicus'' is toxic, differentiating it from other similar mushrooms is important.
''Agaricus californicus'' – like many other ''Agaricus'' species of the section ''Xanthodermati'' – displays a yellowing reaction where its
flesh
Flesh is any aggregation of soft tissues of an organism. Various multicellular organisms have soft tissues that may be called "flesh". In mammals, including humans, ''flesh'' encompasses muscle
Skeletal muscles (commonly referred to as mu ...
has been damaged. Unlike ''
A. xanthodermus''
(a close relative in the section ''Xanthodermati''), ''A. californicus''s yellowing reaction is not always readily apparent and the annulus is smaller. Even in specimens where the reaction is not immediately apparent the addition of a basic solution such as
NaOH
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations and hydroxide anions .
Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic base and alkali ...
or even Lysol will cause the reaction to become quite noticeable, making this a convenient way to distinguish between ''A. californicus'' and similar mushrooms.
See also
*
List of ''Agaricus'' species
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1615287
californicus
Fungi of California
Fungi described in 1895
Taxa named by Charles Horton Peck
Fungi without expected TNC conservation status