Scaly Wood Mushroom

Agaricus langei (F.H. Møller) F.H. Møller

1 Observations

11 months ago Last Observed

The Scaly Wood Mushroom (Agaricus langei) is a large woodland mushroom with a cap covered in reddish-brown scales, packed tightly at the centre and spreading apart towards the paler edge. The crowded gills are pink when young and turn dark brown as the spores ripen. The white stem carries a ring that is usually double, with brown, cogwheel-like scales on its underside, and the white flesh turns red when cut before slowly browning.

It grows in mixed woodland, mostly under broadleaf trees, and in parks on rich soils, mainly from summer into early winter. It is widespread but fairly uncommon in the UK.

The Blushing Wood Mushroom (Agaricus sylvaticus) also reddens and can only be separated with certainty under a microscope. The poisonous Inky Mushroom (Agaricus moelleri) has an inky, chemical smell and does not redden. The Scaly Wood Mushroom is edible, but only for experienced collectors who can rule out the Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus).

Spore Print

Season

Native

non-toxic

Distribution

Widespread but fairly uncommon in UK

Habitat

Growing in mixed woods, mostly deciduous, and parks on mull soils

Etymology

Agaricus is from the Greek agarikon, an old word for a mushroom. langei honours the Danish mycologist Jakob Lange.

Cap

Reddish-brown scales on a paler background, densest at the centre; spherical at first, then flattening.

Colour
Shape	Convex, Flattened
Surface	Fibrillose, Squamose
Width	5 - 15 cm

Gills

Free and crowded; pink when young, becoming dark brown as the spores mature.

Colour
Attachment	Free
Spacing	crowded

Flesh

White and firm, turning red when cut, then slowly browning.

Colour
Odour	Pleasant, mushroomy
Taste	Mild

Stem

The stem is white, clavate to cylindric, 5-9 cm long and 10-25 mm wide, smooth above the ring and fibrillose below, and bruises red. The pendant ring sits about halfway up and is usually double, with brown cog-wheel scales on the lower margin.