Wood Mushroom

Agaricus sylvicola

Deciduous and coniferous forests. Summer, autumn.

Cap 5-10 cm across, convex-flattened, sometimes depressed in the centre, not fleshy, white, greyish-white, fibrous, scaly. Gills pinkish, later purplish-brown, eventually blackish-brown. Stem 6-8 (10)x1-2 cm, thickened at the base, whitish, brownish, with a hanging ring. Flesh thin, whitish, aromatic. Characteristic features: grows only in forests and parks, fruiting bodies greyish-white. Grows singly, sometimes a few fruiting bodies together. A tasty edible mushroom. Common. The poisonous Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermd) is very similar to the Horse Mushroom, the Field Mushroom and the Wood Mushroom; however, this mushroom occurs rarely, its fruiting bodies have an unpleasant carbolic (phenol) smell, and when cut they instantly turn bright yellow.