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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
Cap
White but covered with tiny smoky/grey or brown scales which are denser towards the middle. Starting ovoid but becoming flat.
Gills
The gills start pink and stay like that until finally becoming dark brown/black. Crowded.
Stem
White and bulbous towards the base.
Skirt
Has a large pendulous skirt.
Flesh
White discoloring slightly yellow and becoming brown.
Habitat
Mainly woodland in troops but can be found occasionally in grassland.
Spore Print
Brown. Ellipsoid.
Agaricus moelleri Look-Alikes
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The Yellow Stainer, is superficially similar to Agaricus moelleri but it lacks the dark scales in the cap center; it has larger spores.
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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.
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