Northern Tassie, Another

[mushfun]

Hello All

Can anyone id this mushroom. Picked today in Northern Tasmania. They are known as edible locally and I have eaten them in past years, it has a slight anise taste to me but other than that fairly plain. Grows in open pasture and semi shade amongst grass.

[Berengar]

It's an Agaricus species, Agaricus campestris or something similar.

Toxic Agaricus species can be differentiated by their unpleasant smell, reminiscent of ink or chemicals, and the yellow staining on the bottom of the stipe when it is cut lengthwise.

[mushfun]

Ah ok, thanks for that. No unpleasant smell with this one. How did you pick it as a Agaricus species?

[Berengar]

White cap and stipe, pink gills, not attached, thick veil, grassland habitat. And this particular species is very common all around the world.

[mushfun]

OK, good one, filed away.

[waterboy 2.0]

I'd call Agaricus arvensis - Horse Mushroom....particularly if your getting an anise smell

Rub the cap it may yellow a little....not as choice as the campestris though.

Edited April 1, 2014 by waterboy

[mushfun]

Yes it does have slight yellow on the cap. As far as eating quality goes, I don't find it disagreeable, but it does not excite me that much. Thanks Waterboy.

[mutant]

IDing agaricus is much more difficult than it seems.

There are toxic lookalikes (Agaricus) one should know before picking edible agaricus