''Agaricus campestris'' is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely related to the cultivated

button mushroom ''Agaricus bisporus'' is an edible basidiomycete mushroom native to grasslands in Eurasia and North America. It has two color states while immature – white and brown – both of which have various names, with additional names for the mature ...

''Agaricus bisporus''. It is commonly known as the field mushroom or, in North America, meadow mushroom.

Taxonomy

This species was originally noted and named in 1753 by

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, ...

as ''Agaricus campestris''. It was placed in the genus ''

Psalliota ''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 bis ...

'' by Lucien Quelet in 1872. Some variants have been isolated over the years, a few of which now have species status, for example, '' Agaricus bernardii'' Quel. (1878), ''

Agaricus bisporus ''Agaricus bisporus'' is an edible basidiomycete mushroom native to grasslands in Eurasia and North America. It has two color states while immature – white and brown – both of which have various names, with additional names for the matur ...

'' (J.E. Lange) Imbach (1946), ''

Agaricus bitorquis ''Agaricus bitorquis'' is an edible white mushroom of the genus ''Agaricus'', similar to the common button mushroom that is sold commercially. The name supersedes ''Agaricus rodmani''. It is also commonly known as torq, the banded agaric, spring ...

'' (Quel.) Sacc. (1887), ''

Agaricus cappellianus ''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 ...

'' Hlavacek (1987), and ''

Agaricus silvicola ''Agaricus silvicola'', also known as the wood mushroom, is a species of Agaricus mushroom related to the button mushroom. Taxonomy Originally described as the variety ''Agaricus campestris'' var. ''silvicola'' by Carlo Vittadini in 1832, it ...

'' (Vittad.) Peck (1872). Some were so similar they did not warrant even

varietal A varietal wine is a wine made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label.The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000.winepros.com.au. ...

status, while others have retained it. ''Agaricus campestris'' var. ''equestris'' (F.H.Moller) Pilat (1951) is still valid. ''A. campestris'' var. ''isabellinus'' (F.H.Moller) Pilat (1951), and ''A. campestris'' var. ''radicatus'', are possibly still valid too. The

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bo ...

''campestris'' means "of the fields".

Common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

s given to the fungus include "meadow mushroom", "pink bottom", and "field mushroom". An analysis of ribosomal DNA of a limited number of members of the genus showed ''A. campestris'' to be an early offshoot in the genus and sister taxon to '' A. cupreobrunneus''.

Description

The

cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...

is white, may have fine scales, and is in diameter; it is first hemispherical in shape before flattening out with maturity. The

gills A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

are initially pink, then red-brown and finally a dark brown, as is the

spore print 300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. A 3.5-centimeter ...

. The stipe is tall, 1–2 cm wide, predominantly white and bears a single thin ring. The taste is mild. The white

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 muscles, fats and other loose connective tissues, but ...

bruises a dingy reddish brown, as opposed to yellow in the poisonous ''

Agaricus xanthodermus ''Agaricus xanthodermus'', commonly known as the yellow-staining mushroom or simply the yellow-stainer, is a mushroom of the genus ''Agaricus'', which displays a strong yellow colouration at the base of the stem when cut. It is poisonous for mos ...

'' and similar species. The thick-walled, dark brown, elliptical

spores In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, ...

measure 5.5–8

μm The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer ( American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Uni ...

by 4–5 μm.

Cheilocystidia A cystidium (plural cystidia) is a relatively large cell found on the sporocarp of a basidiomycete (for example, on the surface of a mushroom gill), often between clusters of basidia. Since cystidia have highly varied and distinct shapes that ar ...

are absent.

Similar species

Several species may be confused with ''Agaricus campestris''. The most dangerous confusion may be with ''

Amanita virosa ''Amanita virosa'', commonly known in Europe as the destroying angel or the European destroying angel amanita, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus ''Amanita''. Occurring in Europe, ''A. virosa'' associates with ...

'', which is morbidly toxic, or with the deadly ''

Amanita hygroscopica ''Amanita hygroscopia'' ( /æməˈnaɪtə /ha͡ɪɡɹəskˈo͡ʊpi͡ə), also known as the pink-gilled destroying angel is a deadly poisonous fungus, one of many in the genus ''Amanita''. It was first described by William Chambers Coker in 1917 ...

'' or 'Pink-Gilled Destroying Angel'. A less serious, but more common, confusion is with ''

'' ("the yellow stainer"), which causes gastrointestinal problems in many people. In the US, it may be confused with the poisonous ''

Agaricus californicus ''Agaricus californicus'', commonly known as the California agaricus, is a poisonous mushroom in the section ''Xanthodermati'' of the genus ''Agaricus''. It is mildly poisonous, causing gastrointestinal upset in many individuals. The etiology ...

'' or ''

Agaricus hondensis ''Agaricus hondensis'', commonly known as the felt-ringed agaricus, is a species of fungus in the family Agaricaceae. The species was officially described in 1912 by mycologist William Alphonso Murrill, along with three other ''Agaricus'' specie ...

''. ''

Agaricus arvensis ''Agaricus arvensis'', commonly known as the horse mushroom, is a mushroom of the genus ''Agaricus''. Taxonomy It was described as ''Agaricus arvensis'' by Jacob Christian Schaeffer in 1762, and given numerous binomial descriptions since. Its ...

'', the horse mushroom, is another similar mushroom, and an excellent edible. White ''

Clitocybe ''Clitocybe'' is a genus of mushrooms characterized by white, off-white, buff, cream, pink, or light-yellow spores, gills running down the stem, and pale white to brown or lilac coloration. They are primarily saprotrophic, decomposing forest grou ...

'' species that also grow on lawns, and in grassy places may be dangerous to eat.

Distribution and habitat

''Agaricus campestris'' is found 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 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 ...

, 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 A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the '' plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade (see ...

. The mushroom has been reported from Asia, Europe, northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

Edibility

Although edible and choice, this mushroom is not commercially cultivated on account of its fast maturing and short shelf-life. Culinary uses of the meadow mushroom include eating it sauteed or fried, in sauces, or even sliced raw and included in salads. In flavor and texture, this mushroom is similar to the white button mushroom available in grocery stores in most Western countries. Among the similar species mentioned above, there have been cases (in fact the most common cause of fatal fungus poisoning in France) where the deadly toxic

destroying angel The name destroying angel applies to several similar, closely related species of deadly all-white mushrooms in the genus ''Amanita''. They are '' Amanita bisporigera'' and '' A. ocreata'' in eastern and western North America, respectively, and '' ...

(''Amanita virosa'') has been consumed by individuals who mistook it for this species. The edibility of specimens collected from lawns is uncertain because of possible contamination with pesticides or other chemicals. It is nearly identical (except microscopically) to the edible species ''

Agaricus andrewii ''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 bis ...

'' and '' A. solidipes''.

Other uses

Research into fungal dressings for the treatment of ulcers, and bed sores, using fungal mycelial filaments, is ongoing. In the past, slices of ''A. campestris'' were applied to scalds and burns in parts of Scotland.

Bioactive properties

Water extracts of ''A. campestris'' have been shown to enhance the secretion of

insulin Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the ''INS'' gene. It is considered to be the main anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabolism ...

, and to have insulin-like effects on

glucose metabolism Carbohydrate metabolism is the whole of the biochemical processes responsible for the metabolic formation, breakdown, and interconversion of carbohydrates in living organisms. Carbohydrates are central to many essential metabolic pathways. P ...

in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning in glass, or ''in the glass'') studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called " test-tube experiments", these studies in biology a ...

'', although the mechanism is not understood.

Gallery

File:Agaricus campestris IMG 20200912 170142.jpg, Free hymenium (spore producing tissue layer) (also referred to as gills) of Field Mushroom

References

External links

''Agaricus campestris'' in the "Checklist of the British & Irish Basidiomycota"
{{Taxonbar, from=Q234529 campestris Edible fungi Fungi described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Fungi of Africa Fungi of Asia Fungi of Australia Fungi of Europe Fungi of New Zealand Fungi of North America