Agaricus campestris

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Agaricus campestris
Agaricus campestris.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Agaricaceae
Genus: Agaricus
Species:
A. campestris
Binomial name
Agaricus campestris
L. (1753)
Agaricus campestris
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svg Cap is convex
Free gills icon2.svg Hymenium is free
Bare stipe icon.svg Stipe is bare
Transparent spore print icon.svg
 Spore print is brown
Saprotrophic fungus.svgEcology is saprotrophic
Mycomorphbox Choice.pngEdibility is choice

Agaricus campestris is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely related to the cultivated A. bisporus (button mushroom). A. campestris is commonly known as the field mushroom or, in North America, meadow mushroom.

Taxonomy

This species was originally noted and named in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus as Agaricus campestris. [1] It was placed in the genus Psalliota by Lucien Quelet in 1872. Some variants have been isolated over the years, a few of which now have species status, for example, Agaricus bernardii Quel. (1878), Agaricus bisporus (J.E. Lange) Imbach (1946), Agaricus bitorquis (Quel.) Sacc. (1887), Agaricus cappellianus Hlavacek (1987), and Agaricus silvicola (Vittad.) Peck (1872). Some were so similar they did not warrant even varietal status, while others have retained it. Agaricus campestris var. equestris (F.H.Moller) Pilat (1951) is still valid. A. campestris var. isabellinus (F.H.Moller) Pilat (1951), and A. campestris var. radicatus, are possibly still valid too.

The Latin specific epithet campestris means "of the fields". Common names given to the fungus include "meadow mushroom", "pink bottom", [2] and "field mushroom".

An analysis of ribosomal DNA of a limited number of members of the genus showed A. campestris to be an early offshoot in the genus and sister taxon to A. cupreobrunneus . [3]

Description

The cap is white, may have fine scales, and is 3 to 12 centimetres (1+1⁄8 to 4+3⁄4 inches) in diameter; [4] it is first hemispherical in shape before flattening out with maturity. The gills are initially pink, then red-brown and finally a dark brown, as is the spore print. The stipe is 3 to 10 cm (1+1⁄8 to 3+7⁄8 in) tall, 1–2 cm wide, [4] predominantly white and bears a single thin ring. [5] The taste is mild. The white flesh bruises a dingy reddish brown, as opposed to yellow in the poisonous Agaricus xanthodermus and similar species. The thick-walled, dark brown, elliptical spores [4] measure 5.5–8  μm by 4–5 μm. Cheilocystidia are absent. [6]

Similar species

Several species may be confused with A. campestris. The most dangerous confusion may be with the deadly Amanita virosa (one of the group colloquially called "destroying angel"), [7] or with the deadly Amanita hygroscopica (the pink-gilled destroying angel). [8] Amanita species may be distinguished from Agaricus by a volva at the base, remnants of a universal veil, such a veil may also be seen surrounding adjacent smaller button mushrooms, if present. It's recommended to look for smaller sibling buttons nearby, and slice one of the them lengthwise to examine their anatomy. They may also be distinguished by a white or off-white spore print while mushrooms in the family Agaricacea are dark brown. In the US, A. camp. may also be confused with the poisonous Agaricus californicus [4] or A. hondensis . White Clitocybe species that also grow in grassy places may be toxic. According to Moldenke, some authorities believed that the mandrakes referenced in Genesis and in Song of Solomon were not Mandragora Officinarum L, but instead might be Agaricus campestris L. [9]

A less serious, but more common, confusion is with Agaricus xanthodermus [7] (the yellow stainer), which causes gastrointestinal problems in many people. A. arvensis (the horse mushroom) is very similar and is an excellent edible.

Distribution and habitat

A. campestris is found in fields and grassy areas after rain from late summer onwards worldwide. It is often found on lawns in suburban areas, appearing in small groups, in fairy rings, [10] or solitary. Owing to the demise of horse-drawn vehicles, and the subsequent decrease in the number of horses on pasture, the old "white outs" of years gone by are becoming rare events. [11] This species is rarely found in woodland.

The mushroom has been reported from Asia, Europe, northern Africa, Australia, [12] New Zealand, and North America. [13] [14]

Uses

Although edible and choice, [4] [15] this mushroom is not commercially cultivated on account of its fast maturing and short shelf-life. [16] Culinary uses of the meadow mushroom include eating it sauteed or fried, in sauces, or even sliced raw and included in salads. In flavor and texture, this mushroom is similar to the white button mushroom (A. bisporus) available in grocery stores in most Western countries. [7] Among the similar species mentioned above, there have been cases (in fact the most common cause of fatal fungus poisoning in France) where the deadly toxic A. virosa (the destroying angel) has been consumed by individuals who mistook it for this species. The edibility of specimens collected from lawns is uncertain because of possible contamination with pesticides or other chemicals.[ citation needed ]

It is nearly identical (except microscopically) to the edible species Agaricus andrewii and A. solidipes . [17] [18]

Other uses

Research into fungal dressings for the treatment of ulcers, and bed sores, using fungal mycelial filaments, is ongoing.[ citation needed ] In the past, slices of A. campestris were applied to scalds and burns in parts of Scotland. [19]

Bioactive properties

Water extracts of A. campestris have been shown to enhance the secretion of insulin, and to have insulin-like effects on glucose metabolism in vitro , although the mechanism is not understood. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mushroom</span> Spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus

A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. Toadstool generally denotes one poisonous to humans.

<i>Amanita</i> Genus of mushrooms including some very deadly species

The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded edible species. The genus is responsible for approximately 95% of fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own. The most potent toxin present in these mushrooms is α-Amanitin.

<i>Agaricus bisporus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus bisporus, commonly known as the cultivated mushroom, is a basidiomycete mushroom native to grasslands in Eurasia and North America. It is cultivated in more than 70 countries and is one of the most commonly and widely consumed mushrooms in the world. It has two color states while immature – white and brown – both of which have various names, with additional names for the mature state, such as chestnut, portobello, portabellini, button and champignon de Paris.

<i>Agaricus xanthodermus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus xanthodermus, commonly known as the yellow-staining agaricus, yellow-staining mushroom or yellow-stainer, is a mushroom of the genus Agaricus, which displays a strong yellow colouration at the base of the stem when cut. It has a phenolic smell. It is poisonous for most people, causing gastrointestinal upset, but can be eaten by some without apparent negative effect.

<i>Agaricus</i> Genus of mushrooms

Agaricus is a genus of mushroom-forming fungi containing both edible and poisonous species, with over 400 members worldwide and possibly again as many disputed or newly-discovered species. The genus includes the common ("button") mushroom and the field mushroom, the dominant cultivated mushrooms of the West.

<i>Amanita cokeri</i> Species of fungus

Amanita cokeri, commonly known as Coker's amanita and solitary lepidella, is a poisonous mushroom in the family Amanitaceae. First described as Lepidella cokeri in 1928, it was transferred to the genus Amanita in 1940.

<i>Amanita calyptroderma</i> Species of fungus

Amanita calyptroderma also known as coccora, coccoli or the Pacific amanita, is a white-spored mushroom that fruits naturally in the Sierra Nevada mountains and coastal forests of the western United States during the fall, winter and spring.

<i>Amanita verna</i> Species of fungus

Amanita verna, commonly known as the fool's mushroom or the spring destroying angel, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Occurring in Europe in spring, A. verna associates with various deciduous and coniferous trees. The caps, stipes and gills are all white in colour.

<i>Agaricus arvensis</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus arvensis, commonly known as the horse mushroom, is a mushroom-forming fungus of the genus Agaricus.

<i>Amanita ocreata</i> Species of poisonous fungus in the genus Amanita

Amanita ocreata, commonly known as the death angel, destroying angel, angel of death or more precisely western North American destroying angel, is a deadly poisonous basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. The large fruiting bodies generally appear in spring; the cap may be white or ochre and often develops a brownish centre, while the stipe, ring, gill and volva are all white. A. ocreata resembles several edible species commonly consumed by humans, increasing the risk of accidental poisoning. Mature fruiting bodies can be confused with the edible A. velosa, A. lanei or Volvopluteus gloiocephalus, while immature specimens may be difficult to distinguish from edible Agaricus mushrooms or puffballs.

<i>Agaricus bitorquis</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus bitorquis, commonly known as torq, banded agaric, spring agaric, banded agaricus, urban agaricus, or pavement mushroom, is an edible white mushroom of the genus Agaricus, similar to the common button mushroom that is sold commercially. The name supersedes Agaricus rodmani.

<i>Amanita vaginata</i> Species of fungus

Amanita vaginata, commonly known as the grisette or the grisette amanita, is an edible mushroom in the fungus family Amanitaceae. The cap is gray or brownish, 5 to 10 centimetres in diameter, and has furrows around the edge that duplicate the gill pattern underneath. Unlike many other Amanita mushrooms, A. vaginata lacks a ring on the stem.

<i>Amanita abrupta</i> Species of fungus

Amanita abrupta, commonly known as the American abrupt-bulbed amanita or the American abrupt-bulbed lepidella, is a possibly toxic species of fungus in the family Amanitaceae. Named for the characteristic shape of its fruit bodies, this white Amanita has a slender stem, a cap covered with conical white warts, and an "abruptly enlarged" swollen base. This terrestrial species grows in mixed woods in eastern North America and eastern Asia, where it is thought to exist in a mycorrhizal relationship with a variety of both coniferous and deciduous tree species.

<i>Amanita daucipes</i> Species of fungus

Amanita daucipes is a species of fungus in the family Amanitaceae of the mushroom order Agaricales. Found exclusively in North America, the mushroom may be recognized in the field by the medium to large white caps with pale orange tints, and the dense covering of pale orange or reddish-brown powdery conical warts on the cap surface. The mushroom also has a characteristic large bulb at the base of its stem with a blunt short rooting base, whose shape is suggestive of the common names carrot-footed lepidella, carrot-foot amanita, or turnip-foot amanita. The mushroom has a strong odor that has been described variously as "sweet and nauseous", or compared to an old ham bone, or soap. Edibility is unknown for the species, but consumption is generally not recommended due its position in the Amanita subgroup Lepidella, which contains some poisonous members.

<i>Amanita onusta</i> Species of fungus

Amanita onusta, commonly known as the loaded Lepidella, the gunpowder Lepidella or the gunpowder amanita, is a species of fungus in the mushroom family Amanitaceae. It is characterized by its small to medium-sized fruit bodies that have white to pale gray caps crowded with roughly conical, pyramidal, or irregular gray warts. The stipe is whitish-gray with woolly or wart-like veil remnants, and at the base is a spindle- or turnip-shaped base that is rooted somewhat deeply in the soil.

<i>Amanita bisporigera</i> Poisonous species of fungus in the family Amanitaceae endemic to North America

Amanita bisporigera is a deadly poisonous species of fungus in the family Amanitaceae. It is commonly known as the eastern destroying angel amanita, the eastern North American destroying angel or just as the destroying angel, although the fungus shares this latter name with three other lethal white Amanita species, A. ocreata, A. verna and A. virosa. The mushroom has a smooth white cap that can reach up to 10 centimetres across and a stipe up to 14 cm tall with a white skirt-like ring near the top. The bulbous stipe base is covered with a membranous sac-like volva. The white gills are free from attachment to the stalk and crowded closely together. As the species name suggests, A. bisporigera typically bears two spores on the basidia, although this characteristic is not immutable. A. bisporigera closely resembles a few other white amanitas, including the equally deadly A. virosa and A. verna.

<i>Amanita ravenelii</i> Species of fungus

Amanita ravenelii, commonly known as the pinecone lepidella, is a species of fungus in the family Amanitaceae. The whitish fruit bodies are medium to large, with caps up to 17 centimetres wide, and stems up to 25 cm (10 in) long. The cap surface has large warts and the stem has a scaly, bulbous base. The mushrooms have a unique chlorine like odor.

<i>Amanita ceciliae</i> Species of fungus

Amanita ceciliae, commonly called snakeskin grisette, strangulated amanita, and the Cecilia's ringless amanita, is a basidiomycete fungus in the genus Amanita. First described in 1854 by Miles Joseph Berkeley and Christopher Edmund Broome, it was given its current name by Cornelis Bas in 1984. It is characterized by bearing a large fruit body with a brown cap 5–12 cm (2.0–4.7 in) across. The cap has charcoal-grey patches, which are easily removable. The stipe is 7–18 cm (2.8–7.1 in) long, white in colour, and there is no ring on it. It is slightly tapered to the top, and has irregular cottony bands girdling the base. The universal veil is grey. Spores are white, spherical in shape, non-amyloid, and measure 10.2–11.7 micrometres. The mushrooms are considered edible, but field guides typically advise caution in selecting them for consumption, due to risks of confusion with similar toxic species. A. ceciliae is found in woods throughout Europe and North America, where it fruits during summer and autumn.

<i>Agaricus brunneofibrillosus</i> Species of fungus

Agaricus brunneofibrillosus, commonly known as the dusky mushroom or bleeding agaricus, is a mushroom in the family Agaricaceae. It has a medium to dark brown cap up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter with brownish fibrillose scales that darken in age. The tightly-packed gills are initially cream colored before becoming pinkish, lilac-gray, and finally brownish as the spores mature. The stout stem is enlarged to bulbous at the base which has one or more brown bands, and a white, membranous ring. The mushroom is edible, and has a pleasant odor similar to button mushrooms, and tastes similar to Agaricus bisporus when cooked.

<i>Amanita pachycolea</i> Species of fungus

Amanita pachycolea, commonly known as the western grisette or the Stuntz's great ringless amanita, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Amanitaceae.

References

  1. ↑ Linnaeus C. (1753). Species Plantarum (in Latin). Vol. 2. Stockholm: Lars Salvius. p. 1173.
  2. ↑ Roody WC (2003). Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 48. ISBN   978-0-8131-9039-6.
  3. ↑ Geml J, Geiser DM, Royse DJ (2004). "Molecular evolution of Agaricus species based on ITS and LSU rDNA sequences". Mycological Progress. 3 (2): 157–76. doi:10.1007/s11557-006-0086-8. S2CID   40265528.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 224–225. ISBN   978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC   797915861.
  5. ↑ Nilsson S, Persson O (1977). Fungi of Northern Europe 2: Gill-Fungi. Penguin, New York. ISBN   978-0-14-063006-0.
  6. ↑ Miller HR, Miller OK Jr (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, Connecticut: Falcon Guides. p. 283. ISBN   978-0-7627-3109-1.
  7. 1 2 3 Meuninck, Jim (2017). Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms. Falcon Guides. p. 107. ISBN   978-1-4930-2669-2.
  8. ↑ "Amanita hygroscopica - Amanitaceae.org - Taxonomy and Morphology of Amanita and Limacella". www.amanitaceae.org.
  9. ↑ Moldenke, Harold N., and Alma L. Moldenke. “132. Mandragora Officinarum L.” Essay. In Plants of the Bible, 137–39, 283. New York, NY: Kegan Paul, 2002.
  10. ↑ Fox RTV (2006). "Fungal foes in your garden: fairy ring mushrooms". Mycologist. 20 (1): 36–37. doi:10.1016/j.mycol.2005.11.013.
  11. ↑ Mabey R. (1972). Food For Free, A Guide to the Edible Wild Plants of Britain. Fontana/Collins.
  12. ↑ J. H. Maiden (1889). The useful native plants of Australia : Including Tasmania. Turner and Henderson, Sydney.
  13. ↑ Roberts P, Evans S (2011). The Book of Fungi. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. p. 35. ISBN   978-0-226-72117-0.
  14. ↑ Alonso-Aguilar LE, Montoya A, Kong A, Estrada-Torres A, Garibay-Orijel R (2014). "The cultural significance of wild mushrooms in San Mateo Huexoyucan, Tlaxcala, Mexico". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 10: 27. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-10-27 . PMC   3996006 . PMID   24597704. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. ↑ Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuide. p. 283. ISBN   978-0-7627-3109-1.
  16. ↑ Grigson J. (1975). The Mushroom Feast . London, UK: Penguin. ISBN   978-0-14-046273-9.
  17. ↑ Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 219. ISBN   978-1-55407-651-2.
  18. ↑ Murrill, William (1922). "Dark-Spored Agarics". Mycologia . 14. New York Botanical Garden: 203.
  19. ↑ Harding P. (2008). Mushroom Miscellany. Collins. ISBN   978-0-00-728464-1.
  20. ↑ Gray AM, Flatt PR (1998). "Insulin-releasing and insulin-like activity of Agaricus campestris (mushroom)". The Journal of Endocrinology. 157 (2): 259–66. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.490.7952 . doi:10.1677/joe.0.1570259. PMID   9659289.
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