Agaricus moelleri

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Agaricus moelleri
Agar.moell.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. moelleri
Binomial name
Agaricus moelleri
Wasser (1976)
Synonyms

Agaricus placomyces Peck (1878)
Agaricus meleagris Imbach (1946)
Agaricus praeclaresquamosusFreeman (1979)

Agaricus moelleri
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Flat cap icon.svg Cap is 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 Poison.pngEdibility is poisonous

Agaricus moelleri, commonly known as the flat-top agaricus, [1] inky mushroom, [2] or dark scaled mushroom, [3] is a large mushroom of the genus Agaricus . [3] It appears occasionally in most kinds of woodland, during late summer, in northern temperate zones.

Taxonomy

For many years Agaricus moelleri was erroneously accredited with the binomial Agaricus placomyces by some British authors. The epithet placomyces was in fact given to a North American species of Agaricus by Charles Horton Peck in 1878 (now known as Agaricus praeclaresquamosus A.E.Freeman 1979). [4] The current binomial Agaricus moelleri was published in 1976 by the Ukrainian mycologist Solomon P. Wasser. [5]

Description

The cap has a greyish-brown patch in the centre and cold grey-brown scaling on the surrounding off-white background. It is 5 to 9 centimetres (2 to 3+12 in) in diameter, and yellows when bruised. It is ovate when young, flattening later. [2] The stem has a drooping ring, and stains yellow very easily when bruised, this colour then changes to brown over time. The stem flesh bruises yellow only faintly, and is more noticeable in the base. The gills are crowded, and free, as is typical for an Agaricus. They are pink on young specimens, but brown to black on older fruit bodies. The flesh is white and does not change colour on cutting. It is noted by some authors as smelling like ink, iodoform, sweat, or mouldy straw. The spores are 4–6 x 3–4  μm, and are elliptical. The odour resembles phenol. [6]

A similar species occurring in North America, Agaricus praeclaresquamosus A.E. Freeman 1979, has several variants, some of which are larger. [7]

The rare Agaricus phaeolepidotus also has the iodoform, or ink smell, but has browner cap scales, and stains yellow less readily. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Agaricus moelleri is found in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. North America, Asia [8] Britain, and Europe, growing in mixed forests and woods. It is widespread, but can be locally rare, and favors rich alkaline woodland, or parkland. [3]

Toxicity

In the same fashion as the yellow stainer ( Agaricus xanthodermus ), Agaricus moelleri can produce gastrointestinal symptoms for some people but not others, when ingested. [3] It is considered toxic. [6]

Similar species

Agaricus hondensis is similar, with a pinkish tint and firmer flesh. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<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</i> Genus of mushrooms

Agaricus is a genus of mushroom-forming fungi 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 and the field mushroom, the dominant cultivated mushrooms of the West.

<i>Russula xerampelina</i> Species of fungus

Russula xerampelina, also commonly known as the shrimp russula, crab brittlegill, or shrimp mushroom, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the brittlegill genus Russula. Two subspecies are recognised. The fruiting bodies appear in coniferous woodlands in autumn in northern Europe and North America. Their caps are coloured various shades of wine-red, purple to green. Mild tasting and edible, it is one of the most highly regarded brittlegills for the table. It is also notable for smelling of shellfish or crab when fresh.

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

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<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>Russula adusta</i> Species of fungus

Russula adusta, commonly known as the blackening brittlegill or blackening russula, is a species of gilled mushroom. It is found in woodlands of Europe and North America. Russula adusta is a member of the Russula subgenus Compactae. The cap is brown to gray and somewhat shiny, with a mild taste and, reportedly, an odor of empty wine barrels. It has a propensity to turn black from cutting or bruising and has white spores. It can be found growing with conifers. Similar species include Russula albonigra and R. densifolia.

<i>Russula sanguinaria</i> Species of fungus

Russula sanguinaria, commonly known as the bloody brittlegill or rosey russula, is a strikingly coloured mushroom of the genus Russula, which has the common name of brittlegills. It is bright blood-red, inedible, and grows in association with coniferous trees. It was previously widely known as Russula sanguinea.

<i>Hortiboletus rubellus</i> Species of fungus

Hortiboletus rubellus, commonly known as the ruby bolete, is a small, dainty, brightly coloured member of the family Boletaceae, with a reddish cap and stipe, and yellow pores. Like many boletes, it stains blue when cut or bruised. It is found in deciduous woodland in autumn. There is some question over its edibility, and it is reportedly of poor quality with a taste of soap. Until 2015, the species was known as Boletus rubellus.

<i>Cystoderma amianthinum</i> Species of fungus

Cystoderma amianthinum, commonly called the saffron parasol, the saffron powder-cap, or the earthy powder-cap, is a small orange-ochre, or yellowish-brown, gilled mushroom. It grows in damp mossy grassland, in coniferous forest clearings, or on wooded heaths. It is probably the most common of the small genus Cystoderma. It is not recommended for consumption due to its resemblance to poisonous species.

<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 pocillator</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus pocillator, a woodland mushroom, is distributed through southeastern North America in ranges at least as far north as Illinois. It can be distinguished in the field by its dark center, its small, bulbous base, which stains yellow, and its relatively slight stature. It is very similar to Agaricus placomyces, but is a slightly smaller mushroom with a scalier cap and a more northern range within the United States. A. pocillator is inedible, and several other yellow-staining Agaricus species are poisonous. Hikers are often warned to avoid eating it when spotted.

<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>Agaricus albolutescens</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus albolutescens, commonly known as the amber-staining agaricus, is a moderate-sized, stocky-statured mushroom with a pleasant odor; it bruises slowly but persistently yellow.

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

Agaricus perobscurus, commonly known collectively with its close European relative Agaricus lanipes as the princess, is a basidiomycete fungus. A relative of Agaricus augustus, known as the prince, A. perobscurus can be differentiated in several aspects. While the prince is widely distributed in North America, the princess is found only in the San Francisco Bay Area. Besides its smaller size, it is distinguished from Agaricus augustus by a darker-brown cap, a patchy fibrillose stipe surface at youth, lacking densely floccose-scaly, and a different fruiting season. Another commonly closely associated Agaricus species, Agaricus praeclaresquamosus, is toxic. It can be differentiated by its dark-grey cap, a phenolic, rather than an anise odor, and a stipe base which yellows immediately when injured.

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

Agaricus californicus, commonly known as the mock meadow mushroom, or California agaricus, is a poisonous mushroom in the section Xanthodermati of the genus Agaricus.

<i>Cortinarius traganus</i> Species of fungus

Cortinarius traganus, also known as the gassy webcap or lilac conifer cortinarius, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Cortinarius. The mushrooms are characterized by their lilac color, the rusty-brown gills and spores, and rusty-brown flesh in the stem.

<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.

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. 1 2 Roger Phillips (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. ISBN   0-330-44237-6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Thomas Laessoe (1998). Mushrooms (flexi bound). Dorling Kindersley. ISBN   0-7513-1070-0.
  4. "Basidiomycota Checklist-Online - Species Page". 2011-07-20. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  5. Wasser SP. (1976). "Species nova e genere Agaricus L. ex Fr. emnd. Karst". Novosti Sistematiki Nizshikh Rastenii. 13: 77–9.
  6. 1 2 3 Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 190–191. ISBN   978-0-88192-935-5.
  7. David Arora (1986). Mushrooms Demystified . Ten Speed Press. ISBN   0-89815-169-4.
  8. Asef M.R. (2020). Field guide of Mushrooms of Iran. Tehran: Iran-Shanasi Press. p. 360. ISBN   9786008351429.