MushroomToller Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 I used to be an avid shroomer but gave it up 40 years ago. For obvious reasons I don't much trust my judgement. I found there in a mowed grass field. My wife says they smell of licorice. I think they do also, but then I know arvensis are supposed to; she doesn't. Could they be anything else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 If the color of the gills goes through a decidedly pink stage, then they are not a species of section Arvenses. Looks like these gills are kinda grayish. Horse Mushrooms --ie. species of Agaricus section Arvenses including A. arvensis and A. crocodilinus-- have thick partial veils that form what Mushroom Expert describes as "skirtlike ring that features a cogwheel underside." The one mushroom seen here features what appears to be rather persistent ring, but maybe not exactly fitting the ME description. Maybe have a look at a few more of these and get more photos. Agaricus is a large and tricky genus that includes species that are excellent edibles as well as some that are toxic. Also, Agaricus mushrooms found growing on lawns known to have been treated with chemical herbicides or subjected to other contaminants should not be eaten. Not sure I've heard of Agaricus mushrooms smelling like licorice. But, interpreting/describing an odor can be a rather subjective thing. The mushrooms of Agaricus section Arvenses usually have an odor that people describe as almondy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Please What Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 I agree, too pink for arvensis. Also, arvensis tends to form yellowish spots. Also, never seen them wrinkled/scaly like that on top. Liquorice is quite similar to aniseed which is a common descriptor for some edible Agaricus spp. It could well be edible but probably not arvensis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvert Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 It's definitely an Agaricus. But not Agaricus arvensis. Regarding Horse Mushroom I find them to smell a bit like liquorice. I have no familiarity with anis, so probably my brain is just going to what it already knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clamp connection Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 5 hours ago, Please What said: Also, never seen them wrinkled/scaly like that on top. Many (definitely not all) images I've seen of them show scaly caps, including in guide books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MushroomToller Posted October 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 Anise and licorice are the same smell. I always thought that was definitive for arevensis. No? However, the gills are definitely pink. Of course they are still caps, don't arvensis have pink gills when young? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Please What Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 23 hours ago, clamp connection said: Many (definitely not all) images I've seen of them show scaly caps, including in guide books. You are right. They are a bit scaly. I found some today. The mushrooms in these pictures seem to have more prominent scales, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 12, 2021 Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 There are a few different NA species of Agraicus section Arvenses (Horse Mushrooms), two of the common ones being A. arvesis and A. croccodilinus. My understanding is that either of these species can develop scales on the caps. The main difference between these two species is spore size (the latter has larger spores). Neither species has gills that are truly pink at any stage (maybe briefly light brown). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MushroomToller Posted October 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2021 Okay, my mushrooms aren't arvensis because the gills on the caps were pink. What were they? They were really big agaricus. They grew in the grass. They smelled like anise. But they had pink gills. What were they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunShroomer3578 Posted October 13, 2021 Report Share Posted October 13, 2021 Campetris complex ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 Maybe one of the "campestris" types. Agaricus species can be tough to ID to species. Good example of this seen here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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