5 September 2020 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Synonymns Agaricus macrosporus Cap Convex, expanding with age, covered with coarse scales when young, white, becoming pale yellow to pale brown in the centre, to about 20 cm across Gills Free, crowded, broad, pinkish, then dark brown Stem Cylindrical to club shaped, often rooting, smooth at the apex, scaly below, apical ring large and fleshy Flesh Firm, white in the cap, pale brown in the stem Smell Pleasant, variously described as aniseed or almond Taste Pleasant Season Summer to late autumn Distribution Infrequent Habitat In grass, and in open areas in woodland Spore Print Dark brown Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, smooth (9-12) x (5-7) µm2. Basidia club shaped, 4 spored. Gill edge cystidia bladder shaped to ovoid. Edibility Edible and good Notes This species is distinguished from most Agaricus species by the large spores 
Spores in Melzer's solution viewed with a x100 immersion objective. 5 September 2020 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |