Agaricus subperonatus
Description
Agaricus subperonatus is a saprotrophs species that produce edible fruiting bodies with a gray-white cap, often covered with close-fitting, darker scales. The gills are placed on a cylindrical stem to which a hanging ring is attached. A characteristic feature of Agaricus subperonatus is the presence of cystides on the blades of the gills. This species occurs in forests, parks, and gardens, on humus soils. It produces fruiting bodies from May to October, sometimes in clusters.
Mushroom Identification
Cap
6 to 15 cm in diameter with white flesh that turns pale pink. it is initially spherical, becoming broadly convex or almost flat at maturity. Brown at first, as the cap expands its surface breaks into adpressed brown scales on a pale creamy-white background.
Gills
Initially white, the crowded free gills turn gray-pink, then dark brown as the spores mature.
Stem
5 to 12 cm high, 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter. White, smooth cylindrical or slightly clavate. The lower stem and ring edges are often mottled with brown partial veil fragments. The stem flesh is initially white, then turns pink or reddish, esp. Close to the tribe's base.
Spores
Ellipsoidal to ovoid, smooth, 5.5-7.5 x 4.8-6µm.
Spore Print
Chocolate brown.
Odor and Taste
The taste is not distinctive with a mushroomy odor, it also could be more licorice when old.
Habitat
It is saprophytic and is commonly found in small clusters on tree-covered, humus-rich, disturbed soils, including woodland edges, roadsides, parks, and deciduous-rich gardens; mostly in small groups.
Season
May to October.
Look-Alikes
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Has a gray to brown scales and a floppy stem ring.
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Much bigger and smells of bitter almonds.
History
In 1926 Dutch mycologist Jakob Emanuel Lange first described this mushroom and gave it the name Psalliota hortensis f. subperonata.
In 1951 German-American mycologist Rolf Singer accepted currently scientific name Agaricus subperonatus.
The specific epithet subperonatus comes from Latin, with sub- meaning under or below, and -peronatus meaning sheathed or booted.
Synonyms
Psalliota hortensis f. subperonata J.E. Lange, 1926
Psalliota subperonata (J.E. Lange) J.E. Lange, 1940
Agaricus campestris var. vaporarius Pers., 1801
Photo sources:
Photo 1 - Author: Björn Sothmann (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo 3 - Author: Strobilomyces (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo 4 - Author: Strobilomyces (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo 5 - Author: Strobilomyces (CC BY-SA 3.0)