Agaricus bitorquis

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Agaricus bitorquis
Agaricus.bitorquis.nathan.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Agaricus
Species:
A. bitorquis
Binomial name
Agaricus bitorquis
(Quél.) Sacc. (1887)
Agaricus Bitorquis
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svg Cap is convex
Adnexed gills icon2.svg Hymenium is adnexed
Ring stipe icon.svg Stipe has a ring
Mycomorphbox Choice.pngEdibility is choice

Agaricus bitorquis, commonly known as torq, banded agaric, spring agaric, banded agaricus, urban agaricus, [1] or pavement mushroom, [2] is an edible white mushroom of the genus Agaricus , similar to the common button mushroom that is sold commercially. The name supersedes Agaricus rodmani.

Contents

Taxonomy

The specific epithet bitorquis is Latin "having two collars", and refers to the two rings resulting from detachment of the veil from both the top and bottom of the stipe. The species was first defined by the French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1884, in the form of Psalliota bitorquis (using another genus name in place of the modern Agaricus). [3]

Description

A. bitorquis showing the ring structure Agaricus bitorquis 01.JPG
A. bitorquis showing the ring structure

The cap is dry, smooth, and white (but stains yellowish in age), and measures 4 to 15 cm in diameter, convex to flat, often with dirt on the cap. The gills are free, very narrow and close. They are a light pink color when young, becoming dark reddish-brown as the spores mature. [4] The spore print is chocolate brown.

The stipe is 3–11 cm long, 1–4 cm thick, cylindrical to clavate (club-shaped), stout, white, smooth, with a membranous veil and thick white mycelial sheathing near the base. Distinctively it has both a thick upper ring which is shaped like a funnel and a thinner skirt-like lower ring, giving rise to the species name bitorquis. [5]

The flesh is solid and firm, with a mild odor. It is often confused with the briny-smelling Agaricus bernardii . [6] It also resembles Agaricus campestris somewhat, but that species only has a single fragile ring. [7]

Microscopic details

Agaricus bitorquis
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svgFlat cap icon.svg Cap is convex or flat
Free gills icon2.svg Hymenium is free
Ring stipe icon.svg Stipe has a ring
Transparent spore print icon.svg
Spore print is brown
Saprotrophic fungus.svgEcology is saprotrophic
Mycomorphbox Choice.pngEdibility is choice
Agaricus bitorquis mushroom emerging through asphalt concrete in summer. Agaricus in concrete.jpg
Agaricus bitorquis mushroom emerging through asphalt concrete in summer.

Basidiospores are elliptical in shape, smooth, and with dimensions of 5–7 x 4–5.5  μm. Basidia are 20–25 x 6.5–8.5 μm, usually four-spored, but often with two-spored basidia present. Cystidia are present and numerous.

Distribution and habitat

Agaricus bitorquis may be found growing solitary or in small groups in gardens (noted as growing in a gregarious manner), and at roadsides, usually on the pavement, often where salt is applied to combat ice in winter. [4] Pushing through asphalt and slabs, it is subterranean, and often matures underground. It is occasional throughout North America, [8] Europe, Asia [9] and Australia.[ citation needed ]

Edibility

Agaricus bitorquis is a choice edible species, [10] with a typical 'mushroomy' taste. Specimens collected in the wild may be gritty due to its often subterranean habitat. As with all specimens picked from the wild, care should be taken to consider the suitability of the collection site, as this species can bioaccumulate toxic heavy metals, especially lead, from polluted areas. [11] Nutritional analysis has shown this species to contain 18 amino acids, including all of the essential ones. [12]

Cultivation

First cultivated commercially in 1968, [13] A. bitorquis has several growth characteristics that have piqued the interest of mushroom cultivators looking for an alternative to the standard button mushroom, A. bisporus . For example, A. bitorquis is more resistant to various viral diseases, [14] [15] [16] can grow at higher temperatures [17] and CO2 concentrations, [18] and has better resistance to bruising. [19] Furthermore, high temperature-resistant strains have recently been developed which may help cultivators overcome problems associated with cooling production rooms during hot summer months. [20] [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mushroom</span> Spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus

A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. Toadstool generally denotes one poisonous to humans.

<i>Agaricus bisporus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus bisporus, commonly known as the cultivated mushroom, is a 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 state, including portobello.

<i>Agaricus xanthodermus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus xanthodermus, commonly known as the yellow-staining agaricus, yellow-staining mushroom or yellow-stainer, is a mushroom of the genus Agaricus, which displays a strong yellow colouration at the base of the stem when cut. It has a phenolic smell. It is poisonous for most people, causing gastrointestinal upset, but can be eaten by some without apparent negative effect.

<i>Agaricus campestris</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus campestris is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely related to the cultivated A. bisporus. A. campestris is commonly known as the field mushroom or, in North America, meadow mushroom.

<i>Leratiomyces ceres</i> Species of fungus

Leratiomyces ceres, commonly known as the chip cherry or redlead roundhead, is mushroom which has a bright red to orange cap and dark purple-brown spore deposit. It is usually found growing gregariously on wood chips and is one of the most common and most distinctive mushrooms found in that habitat. It is common on wood chips and lawns in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. The name Stropharia aurantiaca has been used extensively but incorrectly for this mushroom.

<i>Agaricus augustus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus augustus, known commonly as the prince, is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Agaricus.

<i>Panaeolus foenisecii</i> Species of fungus

Panaeolus foenisecii, commonly called the mower's mushroom, haymaker, haymaker's panaeolus, or brown hay mushroom, is a very common and widely distributed little brown mushroom often found on lawns and is not an edible mushroom. In 1963 Tyler and Smith found that this mushroom contains serotonin, 5-HTP and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. In many field guides it is listed as psychoactive; however, the mushroom does not produce any hallucinogenic effects.

<i>Marasmius oreades</i> Species of fungus

Marasmius oreades, also known as the fairy ring mushroom, fairy ring champignon or Scotch bonnet, is a mushroom native to North America and Europe. Its common names can cause some confusion, as many other mushrooms grow in fairy rings, such as the edible Agaricus campestris and the poisonous Chlorophyllum molybdites.

<i>Agaricus bernardii</i> Agaric fungus in the family Agaricaceae

Agaricus bernardii, commonly called the salt-loving agaricus, or salty mushroom, is an agaric fungus in the family Agaricaceae. The mushroom's thick stem is usually shorter than the diameter of the cap, which ranges from 5–15 centimetres and is convex to flattened. The cap surface is whitish to buff, and can develop scales or warts in age. The gills are initially pink before turning brown when the spores mature. The flesh turns reddish when it is cut or bruised. It resembles species such as A. bitorquis.

<i>Agaricus silvicola</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus silvicola, also known as the wood mushroom or woodland agaricus, is a species of Agaricus mushroom related to the button mushroom. A. silvicola is a member of Agaricus section Arvenses, a group of morphologically similar mushrooms. A. silvicola, like other species in Agaricus section Arvenses, exhibits a positive Schäffer's reaction and potassium hydroxide reaction, and smells of almonds or anise.

<i>Stropharia aeruginosa</i> Species of fungus

Stropharia aeruginosa, commonly known as the blue-green stropharia, or verdigris agaric, is a medium-sized green, slimy woodland mushroom, found on lawns, mulch and woodland from spring to autumn. The edibility of this mushroom is controversial - some sources claim that it is edible, while others claim it to be poisonous, although effects are little known and its toxic constituents undescribed.

<i>Leucoagaricus leucothites</i> Species of fungus

Leucoagaricus leucothites, commonly known as the smooth parasol, woman on motorcycle, ma'am on motorcycle, white dapperling, or white agaricus mushroom, is a species of agaric fungus. The species was originally described as Agaricus leucothites by Carlo Vittadini in 1835, and bears similarity to species of that genus. Solomon Wasser transferred it to Leucoagaricus in 1977. While sometimes regarded as edible, the species is suspected of being poisonous due to gastric-upset-causing toxins. It could also be confused with the deadly Amanita ocreata.

<i>Agaricus semotus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus semotus is a woodland mushroom of the fungus order Agaricales. Like many of its relatives, it can be found spread throughout wooded, moist areas in the southern United States, and has been found in areas ranging from California to Florida. It is also indigenous to Great Britain and Europe. A. semotus has also been collected in New Zealand. Although various authors disagree about its edibility, its modest size prevents it from being a significant source of nutrition.

<i>Agaricus placomyces</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus placomyces is a toxic basidiomycete fungus of the genus Agaricus. It is found in North America; the Eurasian populations formerly known by the same scientific name are nowadays known as A. moelleri, while the present species may also be referred to as A. praeclaresquamosus.

<i>Amanita onusta</i> Species of fungus

Amanita onusta, commonly known as the loaded Lepidella, the gunpowder Lepidella or the gunpowder amanita, is a species of fungus in the mushroom family Amanitaceae. It is characterized by its small to medium-sized fruit bodies that have white to pale gray caps crowded with roughly conical, pyramidal, or irregular gray warts. The stipe is whitish-gray with woolly or wart-like veil remnants, and at the base is a spindle- or turnip-shaped base that is rooted somewhat deeply in the soil.

<i>Agaricus hondensis</i> Species of fungus in the family Agaricaceae

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 species that have since been placed in synonymy with A. hondensis. Found in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, A. hondensis fruits in the fall under conifers or in mixed forests.

<i>Hygrophorus purpurascens</i> Species of fungus

Hygrophorus purpurascens, commonly known as the purple-red waxy cap, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hygrophoraceae. Its cap has a pink background color with streaks of purplish red overlaid, and mature gills have red spots.

<i>Agrocybe praecox</i> Species of fungus

Agrocybe praecox, commonly known as the spring fieldcap, spring agrocybe or early agrocybe, is a species of brown-spored mushroom which appears early in the year in woods, gardens and fields. According to modern taxonomic analysis, it is just one of a cluster of closely similar species which are often referred to as the Agrocybe praecox complex. It is found in Europe, North Africa and North America.

<i>Protostropharia semiglobata</i> Species of fungus

Protostropharia semiglobata, commonly known as the dung roundhead, the halfglobe mushroom, or the hemispherical stropharia, is an agaric fungus of the family Strophariaceae. A common and widespread species with a cosmopolitan distribution, the fungus produces mushrooms on the dung of various wild and domesticated herbivores. The mushrooms have hemispherical straw yellow to buff-tan caps measuring 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in), greyish gills that become dark brown in age, and a slender, smooth stem 3–12 cm (1.2–4.7 in) long with a fragile ring.

<i>Agaricus brunneofibrillosus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus brunneofibrillosus, commonly known as the dusky mushroom or bleeding agaricus, is a mushroom in the family Agaricaceae. It has a medium to dark brown cap up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter with brownish fibrillose scales that darken in age. The tightly-packed gills are initially cream colored before becoming pinkish, lilac-gray, and finally brownish as the spores mature. The stout stem is enlarged to bulbous at the base which has one or more brown bands, and a white, membranous ring. The mushroom is edible, and has a pleasant odor similar to button mushrooms, and tastes similar to Agaricus bisporus when cooked.

References

  1. Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi (Second ed.). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN   978-0-89815-169-5.
  2. https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/field_mycology/english-names It has been recorded pushing up paving slabs.
  3. "the Agaricus bitorquis page". Species Fungorum. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  4. 1 2 "Sidewalk Mushroom: Identify via Pictures, Habitat, Season & Spore Print | Agaricus bitorquis". Sidewalk Mushroom, Agaricus bitorquis, Ediblewildfood.com. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  5. Knudsen, Thomas; Vesterholt, J., eds. (2018). Funga Nordica Agaricoid, boletoid, clavarioid, cyphelloid and gasteroid genera. Copenhagen: Nordsvamp. p. 603. ISBN   978-87-983961-3-0.
  6. Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 222–223. ISBN   978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC   797915861.
  7. Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuide. p. 279. ISBN   978-0-7627-3109-1.
  8. David Arora (1986). Mushrooms Demystified . Ten Speed Press. p.  321. ISBN   978-0-89815-169-5.
  9. Asef M.R. (2020). Field guide of Mushrooms of Iran. Tehran: Iran-Shanasi Press. p. 360. ISBN   9786008351429.
  10. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America . Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p.  220. ISBN   978-1-55407-651-2.
  11. Cocchia, L., Vescovia, L., Petrinid, L.E, Petrini, O. (2006). Heavy metals in edible mushrooms in Italy. Food Chem. 98(2):277-84.
  12. Zakhary, J.W., Abo-Bakr, T., El-Mahdy, A.R., El-Tabey, S.A.M. (1983). Chemical composition of wild mushrooms collected from Alexandria Egypt. Food Chem. 11(1):31-42.
  13. Fritsche, G. (1975). Welche Möglichkeiten eröffnet der viersporige Champignon "Agaricus bitorquis (Quél.) Sacc."" dem Züchter? [What potentialities does 4-spored mushroom Agaricus bitorquis (Quel) Sacc. offer to breeders?] Theoretical and Applied Genetics47(3):125–31.
  14. Dieleman-van Zaayen A. (1972). Spread, prevention and control of mushroom virus disease. Mushroom Sci. 8:131-54.
  15. Vedder, P.J.C. (1975). Practical experiences with Agaricus bitorquis. The Mushroom J. 32:262-9.
  16. Van-Zaayen, A. (1976). Immunity of strains, of Agaricus bitorquis to mushroom virus disease. The Mushroom J. 47:360–3.
  17. Hasselbach O.E., Mutsers, P. (1971). Agaricus bitorquis (Quel.) Sacc. ein wärmeliebendes familienmitglied der Champignons. Champignon. 130:20–6.
  18. Steane, G.R. (1980). The case for growing Agaricus bitorquis. The Mushroom J. 96:435-8.
  19. Vedder, P.J.C. (1978). "Cultivation". In the Biology and Cultivation of Edible Mushrooms, pp. 377–92. Eds: Chang, S.T, Hayes, W.A. Academic Press: New York, San Francisco.
  20. Guler, P., Ergene, A., Tan, S. Production of high temperature-resistant strains of Agaricus bitorquis. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 5(8):615-9.
  21. Sharma, S.S., Doshi, A. (2001). High temperature tolerant button mushroom (Agaricus bitorquis) and its strains suitable under Rajasthan conditions. J Mycol Plant Pathol. 31(2):256–7.