Pavement Mushroom

Agaricus bitorquis

Squares, parks, gardens, less often (deciduous) forests. Summer, autumn.

Cap 5—10 (15) cm across, fleshy, hemispherical, later flattened, sometimes depressed in the centre, finely scaly, white, greyish-white, when old ochre-brown. Gills pale pink, when old purplish-black. Stem 4-7x2-4 cm, sometimes thickened in the middle, tapering at the base, with a double white ring. Flesh whitish, slowly turning pinkish when cut, up to 2.5 cm thick, with a pleasant smell and taste. Characteristic features: most often grows along fences, in squares and parks; it is able to push its way through cracked asphalt or concrete. Grows singly or in small groups. It is not advisable to collect it near busy streets, in squares or along fences, because the mushrooms may have accumulated car exhaust pollutants.