Agaricus hondensis Murrill
Mycologia 4: 296. 1912.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap 7-14 cm broad, convex at first, then plane; surface dry, white shading to a light greyish-brown disk, covered with appressed pale pinkish-brown to lilac brown scales. Odor mild or faintly of phenol. Turning yellow in KOH.

• Lamellae

  Gills free, close, pale at first then pinkish-brown, finally blackish-brown.

• Stipe

  Stipe 8-14 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm thick, bulbous at base, smooth above and below the ring; veil thick, felt-like, yielding a well developed superior ring. Stipe base bulbous, turning pale yellow when bruised; odor faintly of phenol.

• Spores

  Spores 4.0-6.0 X 3-4.5 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print blackish-brown.

• Habitat

  Found from late fall to early spring in mixed hardwood-coniferous forest.

• Edibility

  Toxic. Causes gastrointestinal upsets.

• Comments

  Agaricus hondensis is a handsome, robust species that unfortunately is toxic. It is recognized by its large size, flattened pale lilac-brown cap scales, thick felt-like ring and bulbous stipe base. The phenolic odor is often faint but KOH will cause a yellowing reaction. It is sometimes mistaken for A. subrutilescens (Wine-Colored Agaricus) with which it often fruits. The latter, however, has a distinctly darker cap, lacks a bulbous base, and has cottony scales on the stipe below the ring.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Wood: Agaricus hondensis (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Agaricus hondensis (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Agaricus hondensis (CP) -- note the thick veil
  • Michael Wood: Agaricus hondensis (CP) -- the bulbous stipe base is typical
  • Michael Wood: Agaricus hondensis (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Agaricus hondensis (CP)
  • Arora (1985): p. 326 (D), p. 327 (P)
  • Arora (1991): p. 114 (D & CP)
  • Kerrigan: p. 33 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 506 (D), plate 158 (CP)
  • Smith (1975): sp. 173 (D & CP)

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)