Agaricus bernardii
Salty Mushroom
Status:
Uncommon, increasing especially along roads.
Meaning 'from the country'.
Cap:
8-16cm
Stem:
4-9cm
Named after G. Bernard, who first 'found' this species.
Description
A species that has increased in recent years, along road networks where its preference for salty conditions are met through the gritting of roads. They heavily cracked cap on mature specimens and the change in flesh colour to red once cut make it a distinctive member of the Agaricus family.
Smell
Unpleasant, fishy, some even think slightly like urine.
Season
Autumn.
Habitat & Distribution
Usually grows in meadows and dunes near the sea, but has spread quickly across the road network where roads are gritted, creating a similar habitat. Found widely across the UK.
Edibility
Edible but not worthwhile, it is often slightly maggoty, has a bad smell and often grows near roads where no mushrooms should really be gathered for consumption.
Confusion Species
Spores
6-8.5 x 4.5-6.5-ยต, broadly ovate.
Spore Print Colour
Dark brown.
Whilst the Agaricus family can be difficult to identify, the Salty Mushroom usually grows near the coast or by roads, the fact the flesh turns from white to vivid red when cut and the deep cracks and groves on the cap of mature specimens, make this a relatively straight forward species to identify.