Agaricus arvensis

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Horse mushroom
Pieczarka polowa vongrzanka.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Agaricus
Species:
A. arvensis
Binomial name
Agaricus arvensis
Schaeff. (1774)
Agaricus arvensis
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svg Cap is convex
Free gills icon2.svg Hymenium is free
Ring stipe icon.svg Stipe has a ring
Transparent spore print icon.svg
Transparent spore print icon.svg
 Spore print is brown to blackish-brown
Saprotrophic fungus.svgEcology is saprotrophic
Mycomorphbox Choice.pngEdibility is choice

Agaricus arvensis, commonly known as the horse mushroom, [2] is a mushroom-forming fungus of the genus Agaricus .

Contents

Taxonomy

It was described as Agaricus arvensis by Jacob Christian Schaeffer in 1774, [3] 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 A. arvensis showing cogwheel.jpg
Agaricus arvensis showing the so-called cogwheel on left-hand specimen

The cap is 7–20 cm (3–8 in) across, whitish, smooth, and dry; it stains yellow, particularly when young. [4] The gills are pale pink to white at first, later passing through grey and brown to become dull chocolate. [4] A large, spreading ring has 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 stalk is 5–12 cm (2–4+1⁄2 in) long and 1–3 cm wide. [4]

The spores are brown and smooth, [4] producing a dark brown spore print. [5] Its odor is similar to that of almond extract or marzipan, due to the presence of benzaldehyde. [6] It tends to stain yellow on bruising. [7]

Similar species

In addition to its similarity to other related species, [5] this fungus can be confused with deadly species of Amanita . [8]

Agaricus osecanus is rare, and lacks the almond smell. [9] Agaricus xanthodermus , the yellow stainer, can cause stomach upsets. [4]

Distribution and habitat

It is one of the largest white Agaricus species in Britain (where it appears during July–November), West Asia (Iran), [10] 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).[ citation needed ] It is associated with cypress on the North American West Coast and spruce to the east. [5]

Conservation

This mushroom is considered common and widespread, thus is not a conservation concern. [11]

Edibility

This is a choice edible species. [12] [7] Despite this, the fruit bodies of this and other yellow-staining Agaricus species often have a build-up of heavy metals, such as cadmium, and copper. [11] Additionally, this mushroom can resemble deadly Amanita mushrooms, such as A. verna . [8]

References

  1. ↑ Dahlberg, A. (2019). "Agaricus arvensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T122090207A222966101. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T122090207A222966101.en . Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Kuo, M. (2007). 100 Edible Mushrooms. Ann Arbor, Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. p. 238. ISBN   978-0-472-03126-9.
  3. ↑ Schaeffer, Jacob Christian (1774). Fungorum qui in Bavaria et Palatinatu circa Ratisbonam nascuntur Icones (in Latin). Vol. 4. Erlangen: J.J. Palmium. pp. 73–74.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 220. ISBN   978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC   797915861.
  5. 1 2 3 Audubon (2023). Mushrooms of North America. Knopf. p. 541. ISBN   978-0-593-31998-7.
  6. ↑ Dogan, A., Dalar, A., Sadullahoglu, C., Battal, A., Uzun, Y., Celik, I., & Demirel, K. (2018). Investigation of the protective effects of horse mushroom (Agaricus arvensis Schaeff.) against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress in rats. Molecular Biology Reports, 45(5), 787–797. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-018-4218-4
  7. 1 2 Arora, David (1986) [1979]. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press. pp. 332–333. ISBN   978-0-89815-170-1.
  8. 1 2 McKnight, V.B.; McKnight, K.H. (1987). A Field Guide to Mushrooms: North America. Peterson Field Guides. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin. p. 255. ISBN   0-395-91090-0.
  9. ↑ Roger Phillips (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. ISBN   0-330-44237-6.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. 1 2 "Plants & Fungi: Agaricus arvensis (horse mushroom) - Species profile from". Kew. Archived from the original on 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  12. ↑ Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuide. p. 280. ISBN   978-0-7627-3109-1.
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