Agaricus moelleri: The Ultimate Mushroom Guide

About The Agaricus moelleri Mushroom

Agaricus moelleri is a large mushroom of the genus Agaricus. It appears occasionally in most kinds of woodland, during late summer.

This mushroom is found in North America, Britain, and Europe, growing in mixed forests and woods. It is widespread, but can be locally rare, and favors rich alkaline woodland, or parkland.

When eaten, even after thorough cooking, the Agaricus moelleri can cause stomach upsets; however, it seems some people can eat these fungi with no obvious ill effects whatsoever.

Other names: Inky Mushroom, Dark Scaled Mushroom.

Agaricus moelleri Identification

1. Cap

   White but covered with tiny smoky/grey or brown scales which are denser towards the middle. Starting ovoid but becoming flat.

2. Gills

   The gills start pink and stay like that until finally becoming dark brown/black. Crowded.

3. Stem

   White and bulbous towards the base.

4. Skirt

   Has a large pendulous skirt.

5. Flesh

   White discoloring slightly yellow and becoming brown.

6. Habitat

   Mainly woodland in troops but can be found occasionally in grassland.

7. Spore Print

   Brown. Ellipsoid.

Agaricus moelleri Look-Alikes

1. Agaricus xanthodermus

   The Yellow Stainer, is superficially similar to Agaricus moelleri but it lacks the dark scales in the cap center; it has larger spores.

2. Agaricus campestris

   Is similar in appearance but does not turn yellow when cut or bruised.

Agaricus moelleri Taxonomy & Etymology

Until relatively recently this mushroom was treated by many mycologists as merely a variety of the Yellow Stainer Agaricus xanthodermus. Its currently-accepted scientific name Agaricus moelleri dates from a 1976 publication by the Ukrainian mycologist Dr. Solomon P. Wasser (b. 1946).

Synonyms of Agaricus moelleri include Psalliota xanthoderma var. obscurata (Maire) A. Pearson, Agaricus xanthodermus var. obscuratus Maire, Psalliota meleagris Jul. Schäff., Agaricus meleagris (Jul. Schäff.) Imbach, Agaricus praeclaresquamosus A.E. Freeman, and Agaricus praeclaresquamosus var. terricolor (F.H. Møller) Bon & Cappelli.

The specific epithet moelleri honors the German mycologist and forest botanist Alfred Möller (1860 - 1921), while the common English name Inky Mushroom is a reference to the smell of the cut or crushed flesh of this very common but often misidentified mushroom.