Lepiota americana / Leucoagaricus americanus?

[Nutball]

If more pictures are needed, I have a lot of these growing, so that's not a problem. They are growing on eastern white pine wood chips. The surface and gills quickly bruise yellow, the core of the stalk, especially lower down on young mushrooms, quickly turns red in about starting in just 1-2 seconds, and reaching full color in about 10 seconds. Stalk swells toward the base.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave W]

The combination of robust club shaped stalks (lower portion swollen then tapered), well-formed ring, yellow staining, and red staining help to separate Leucoagaricus americanus from similar-looking but generally smaller mushrooms that represent genus Lepiota. Some Lepiota species are known to be dangerously poisonous, and none should be consumed. 

Lepiota cristata has a similarly scaly cap and often a well-formed annulus.

Lepiota cortinarius often has a club-shaped stalk.

Species of Chlorophyllum form large mushrooms with annulate stalks that are also similar to Leucoagaricus americanus. C. rhacopus has flesh that often stains/bruises saffron. 

The growth pattern seen in this thread --clustered on wood chips-- is typical for L. americanus. 

 

[Nutball]

I can't find much info on Lepiota cortinarius

Having felt very confident with the identification, and other's experience that it is edible, I've tried cooking small amounts over the past few weeks. They're not bad, but not all that good either. No noticeable flavor unless eaten by itself. Tastes like store bought mushrooms, except just a little on the sour side, but not an unpleasant sour.

[Dave W]

Yeah, my opinion a well, the taste i okay but not great. The stalks are a bit fibrous.