''Agaricus cupreobrunneus'', commonly known as the brown field mushroom, is an

edible mushroom Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruit bodies of several species of macrofungi (fungi which bear fruiting structures that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye). They can appear either below ground (hypogeous) or above ground ...

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 bi ...

''.

Description

The brown cap is wide with flattened reddish-brown fibrils. The white stalk is tall and 1–2 cm wide. The spores are dark brown, elliptical, and smooth.

Distribution and habitat

''Agaricus cupreobrunneus'' tends to fruit in disturbed areas and grassy places, such as lawns, pastures, and roadsides. It can fruit by itself, gregariously, or in

fairy ring A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. They are found mainly in forested areas, but also appear in grasslands or rangelands. Fairy rings are detectable by ...

Edibility

''Agaricus cupreobrunneus'' is

edible An edible item is any item that is safe for humans to eat. "Edible" is differentiated from "eatable" because it does not indicate how an item tastes, only whether it is fit to be eaten. Nonpoisonous items found in nature – such as some mushroo ...

and good. Its taste is comparable to that of ''

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

'', but it is comparatively lacking in texture. ''A. cupreobrunneus'' is not currently cultivated on a widespread basis, but is commonly eaten by collectors in the areas in which it grows. It does not contain the carcinogen

agaritine Agaritine is an aromatic hydrazine-derivative mycotoxin in mushroom species of the genus ''Agaricus''. It is an α-aminoacid and a derivative of phenylhydrazine. Occurrence Agaritine is present as a natural phytochemical in fresh samples of at ...

, which appears in many other members of the genus ''

''.

Similar species

''Agaricus cupreobrunneus'' is similar in general appearance to a number of other ''Agaricus'' species, especially to ''A. campestris''. It also bears strong similarities to '' A. argenteus'', '' A. augustus'', '' A. hondensis'', '' A. porphyrocephalus'', and '' A. rutilescens''. The only potential lookalikes of ''A. cupreobrunneus'' that are

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 ...

are yellow- or red-staining, or occur in much different habitats.

References

External links