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AGARICUS
AGARICUS PLACOMYCES Peck Probably edible for most people
Figure 344, page 235
PILEUS 2-5 in. broad, rather fragile, at first broadly ovate, becoming con-
vex and finally plane, whitish beneath the blackish brown, fibrillose scales, the
disk blackish brown from the unbroken fibrillose covering, flesh white or
sHghtly yellowish under the cuticle, sometimes becoming pinkish, thin, odor
sHght to somewhat disagreeable, taste mild, lamellae free, crowded, rather
narrow to moderately broad, at first white to grayish, becoming pink and then
purple-brown, stipe 2 1/2-5 in. long, !4-!/^ in. thick, tapering upward, more or
less bulbous at the base, glabrous, whitish, sometimes staining yellow, stuffed
becoming hollow, annulus large, conspicuous, double, whitish above, the
lower layer cracking into brownish patches, spores chocolate-brown, ellipsoid,
smooth, 5-6 X 3.5-4 jjl.
Solitary or in groups or sometimes in clusters in mixed woods. June-Sept.
The scaly pileus, large annulus, and tapering, somewhat bulbous stipe are
the chief distinguishing characters of this species. There have been occasional
reports of it causing illness so that it should be tried with caution at first.
AGARICUS SILVICOLA (Vitt.) Sacc. Edible for most people
Figures 290, 291, page 193
PILEUS 2)/2-6 in. broad, moderately firm, at first convex, expanding and
becoming plane, white or creamy white, staining yellow on the disk when
bruised, somewhat silky-fibrillose. flesh moderately thick, brittle, white,
becoming yellow when bruised, odor and taste mild, lamellae free, crowded,
narrow to moderately broad, at first whitish, then pink and finally blackish,
brown, stipe 3-6 in. long, J4-% in. thick, equal or tapering upward sHghtly,
with an abrupt bulb at the base, or bulb lacking and base flattened, somewhat
silky to glabrous, creamy white, staining yellow when bruised, stuff'ed then
hollow, annulus large, double, smooth above with the lower layer cracking
and forming yellowish patches which may disappear, spores purpHsh brown
to chocolate-brown, elhpsoid, smooth, 5-6.5 X 3-4.5 m-
SoHtary or in groups, occasionally in clusters of two or three, usually
growing in the woods. July-Sept.
This species is edible although it should be tried with caution as occa-
sional cases of illness in individuals have been reported. The remarks relative
to the dangers of using button stages in A. campestris apply with much greater
force to A. silvicola because it grows in much the same habitat as Amanita
virosa.
A. silvicola is rather variable in size from a slender plant to a very robust
form easily confused with A. arvensis. Usually the slender forms have an
abrupt, flattened bulb at the base of the stipe but this character may vary also.
The annulus is large and conspicuous. Agaricus abruptibulbus Peck is con-
sidered to be a synonym.
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