Blushing Wood Mushroom

Agaricus sylvaticus Schaeff.

1 Observations

1 month ago Last Observed

The Blushing Wood Mushroom (Agaricus sylvaticus) is named for the way its flesh blushes red when cut or bruised, faster than in other wood mushrooms, before turning brown. The cap is yellowish-brown to greyish-brown and covered in fine brown scales that are densest at the centre. The crowded gills are pink at first, becoming dark brown, and the white stem, which browns with age, carries a thin ring above a slightly swollen base.

It grows in both broadleaf and conifer woodland, never in open pasture, from July into December, and is common and widespread.

The Scaly Wood Mushroom (Agaricus langei) is very similar and also reddens. The poisonous Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus) stains bright yellow at the stem base and smells of ink. The Blushing Wood Mushroom is edible, but only for experienced collectors.

Spore Print

Season

Native

non-toxic

Distribution

Common and widespread

Habitat

In broadleaved and coniferous woodlands, never in open pastures or meadows

Etymology

Agaricus is from the Greek agarikon, an old word for a mushroom. sylvaticus is Latin for 'of woods', after its habitat.

Conservation

LC - Least Concern

IUCN Red Data List - Agaricus sylvaticus
Assessment date: 2019

Cap

Fine brown scales on a paler background, densest at the centre; domed at first, then almost flat.

Colour
Shape	Convex, Flattened, Depressed
Surface	Fibrillose, Squamose
Width	2.5 - 12 cm

Gills

Free and crowded; pink at first, then reddish, finally dark brown.

Colour
Spacing	crowded

Flesh

The flesh is white, thin and firm in the cap, with a faint mushroomy smell and a mild taste. When cut it turns red on the cap and upper stem, then browns as it ages.

Colour
Odour	Faint, mushroomy
Taste	Mild

Stem

The stem is white, club-shaped, 4.5-13 cm long and 8-20 mm wide, with a fibrillose to scaly surface that bruises red and becomes browner with age. The thin ring has a thicker margin, simple or double, and large triangular scales forming a cogwheel on the underside.