''Agaricus silvicola'', also known as the wood mushroom, is a species of

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 ...

mushroom related to the

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 ...

Taxonomy

Originally described as the

variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

''Agaricus campestris'' var. ''silvicola'' by

Carlo Vittadini Carlo Vittadini (11 June 1800, in Bertonico – 20 November 1865, in Milan) was an Italian doctor and mycologist. Life He studied in Milan and at the University of Pavia, where he attended the classes given by Giuseppe L. Moretti (1782–1 ...

in 1832, it was promoted to distinct species status by

Charles Horton Peck Charles Horton Peck (March 30, 1833 – July 11, 1917) was an American mycologist of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the New York State Botanist from 1867 to 1915, a period in which he described over 2,700 species of North American fu ...

in 1873. Varieties with larger bases have been described as '' A. abruptibulbus''.

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 light cream, and bruises yellow ochre when damaged. It is in diameter, which makes it slightly smaller than its close relative ''

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". The stem is , and usually has a bulbous base. It is much the same colour as the

, and has a fragile drooping ring. The

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 ...

is thin and white, and smells of

aniseed Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia. The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and t ...

. It looks fairly similar to a young death cap. The

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, ...

are brown, elliptical, and smooth.

Distribution and habitat

''Agaricus silvicola'' grows in both

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, ...

and coniferous woodland in Britain, Europe, and North America. Appearing in the autumn, it is rarely seen in huge numbers, usually just a few, or solitary.

Edibility

It 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 popular in Europe. It is suspected to have caused an allergic reaction in a few people in North America. (This reference is not supported by clinical cases).

'' – the horse mushroom *''

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 ...

'' – the field mushroom *'' Agaricus hondensis'' *'' Agaricus osecanus'' *'' Agaricus semotus'' *''

Agaricus subrutilescens ''Agaricus subrutilescens'', also known as the wine-colored agaricus, is a mushroom of the genus ''Agaricus''. It was first described scientifically in 1925 as ''Psalliota subrutilescens'', and later transferred to ''Agaricus'' in 1938. Descri ...

'' *''

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 ...

'' – the yellow stainer

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q384480 silvicola Edible fungi Fungi described in 1832 Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America

Taxonomy

Description

Distribution and habitat

Edibility

Similar species

See also

References