Agaricus impudicus

Description

Agaricus impudicus is a species of fungi in the family Agaricaceae. It has a brownish cap and numerous brownish scales on a white background. The stem is white, cylindrical, and wider towards the bottom, or ending in a bulb.

Unlike many other of the 'woodland' Agaricus it does not change color in the flesh when cut. There are differing opinions on whether the gills change color, with some authors stating they turn dark red when damaged.

Known to occur in Western and Southern Europe and New Zealand, this uncommon mushroom is found in deciduous or coniferous forests in autumn.

Common names: Tufted Wood Mushroom.

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   5 to 10cm across; initially convex, often becoming flat-topped as it expands; large scales usually in various shades of dark brown on a pale brown background; whitish flesh either slowly turning very slightly red or unchanging when cut.

2. Gills

   Free and crowded. The gills color is grayish pink, turning brown with age.

3. Stem

   6 to 10 cm long and 0.8 to 1.2 cm diametr, with a slightly bulbous base. It has a white pendulous ring with a smooth surface that turns brown with age.

4. Spores

   Ellipsoidal to ovoid, smooth, 4-6.7 x 3.7-4.5µm.

5. Spore Print

   Chocolate brown.

6. Odor and Taste

   The odor is strong and reminiscent of radish and the taste is earthy-mushroomy.

7. Habitat

   Saprobic, usually grow in groups in conifer forests and mixed woodland.

8. Season

   August to November.

Look-Alikes

1. Agaricus haemorrhoidarius

   Very similar, with gray-brown scales and a stouter stem. It is found under deciduous trees, especially oak and beech.

2. Agaricus augustus

   Larger, with a bitter almond flavor..

3. Agaricus sylvaticus and Agaricus langei

   Both turn red in the flesh when damaged, which is not the case with the A. impudicus fungus.

History

In 1932 the British mycologist Carleton Rea (1861 - 1946) described this species and gave it the binomial scientific name Psalliota impudica. In 1951 Czech mycologist Albert Pilát (1903 - 1974) transferred this mushroom to the genus Agaricus.

The specific epithet impudicus is Latin for "shameless" or "immodest."

Synonyms

1. Psalliota impudica Rea

2. Psalliota variegata F.H. Møller

3. Agaricus variegatus (F.H. Møller) Pilát

4. Agaricus variegans F.H. Møller

5. Psalliota variegata var. koelerionis Bon

6. Agaricus koelerionensis (Bon) Bon.

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Chris Moody (Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic)