Pavement Mushroom
This fungi can grow through dry, compacted soil or even asphalt and seems to prefer growing beside paths and roads hence its common name.
Scientific Name – Agaricus bitorquis
Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.
Cap
8-12 cm. White and convex opening out to flat in mature specimens. The cap is often covered in mud and dust.
Gills
Crowded, not joined to the stem. Gills off white/grey at first soon turning pink to dark brown.
Stem
6-10cm long, 1.5-2 cm diameter. Robust, white and often tapering at the base.
Skirt
Has an inferior, double edged skirt, obvious in this picture, not always so on other Pavement Mushrooms.
Flesh
Meaty white flesh turning slightly pink on cutting.
Habitat
Roadsides, path edges, under trees, bare soil, gardens or manure.
Possible Confusion
The Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus), but this mushroom stains chrome yellow when bruised or cut and smells of Indian ink, hospitals or iodine and not edible. Can look similar to some of the Amanitas when young and white gilled.
Spore Print
Brown. Subglobose.
