Field Mushroom
This used to be a very common mushroom but is becoming harder to find due to loss of habitat and the chemical sprays used nowadays.
Scientific Name – Agaricus campestris
Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.
Cap
5-8 cm. White, sometimes discoloured grey/brown, can be scaley or smooth. Starting spherical and opening out flat. Can bruise slightly pink. The cuticle often hangs down over the edge of the cap and is a good indicator of a Field Mushroom.
Gills
Crowded and free from the stem. The gills start deep pink and soon turn to dark brown with maturity.
Stem
5-7 cm long, 1-2 cm diameter. White and smooth above the ring, slightly scaly below, tapering at the base. The ring is delicate and only traces of it can usually be found.
Skirt
Superior to intermediate. Small, slight and not very long lasting.
Flesh
White, bruising slightly pink.
Habitat
Pasture, meadows, lawns, road verges and parks.
Possible Confusion
The toxic Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus), but this mushroom stains chrome yellow when bruised or cut and smells of Indian ink, hospitals or iodine.
Spore Print
Chocolate brown. Ovoid. You should scrape your spores into a small pile to get an accurate spore colour.
