Agaricus moelleri

Description

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.

Common names: Inky Mushroom, Dark Scaled Mushroom.

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   5 to 12 cm in diametr.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

   6 to 10 cm long and 1 to 1.2 cm diametr. White and bulbous towards the base.

4. Flesh

   White discoloring slightly yellow and becoming brown.

5. Spores

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

6. Spore Print

   Brown.

7. Habitat

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

8. Season

   August to November.

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.

3. Agaricus augustus

   Has a gray-brown scales and a stouter stem. Grows under broad-leaved trees, mainly on oak and beech.

4. Agaricus haemorrhoidarius

   Larger and smells like bitter almonds.

History

Until recently this fungus was seen by many mycologists as just a variant of the yellow-dyed Agaricus blazei. Its currently accepted scientific name Agaricus moelleri is based on the publication of the Ukrainian mycologist Dr. Solomon P. Wasser (b. 1946).

The specific epithet moelleri is in honor of German mycologist and forest botanist Alfred Möller (1860 - 1921).

Synonyms

1. Agaricus meleagris (Jul. Schäff.) Pilát, 1951

2. Psalliota meleagris Jul. Schäff., 1925

3. Agaricus placomyces var. meleagris (Jul. Schäff.) M.M. Moser, 1967

4. Agaricus praeclaresquamosus A.E. Freeman, 1979

5. Agaricus placomyces var. meleagris (Jul. Schäff.) R. Pascual, 1987

6. Agaricus praeclaresquamosus var. meleagris (Jul. Schäff.) E. Horak, 2005

7. Agaricus xanthodermus var. obscuratus Maire, 1911

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Tim Sage (T. Sage) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Michel Langeveld (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Zonda Grattus (CC BY 3.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Tim Sage (NMNR) (CC BY-SA 3.0)