Agaricus placomyces
Encyclopedia
Agaricus placomyces, also known as Agaricus praeclaresquamosus (Peck) or Agaricus meleagris, is a large mushroom that resides mainly in the woodlands.
is dry and covered with brownish fiber
s and scales
, especially over the center. Underneath, the cap can be whitish under normal environment
s, or pinkish in wet weather. Covered with fine, appressed greyish-brown scales and concentrated at the disc, the cap is thick, slowly becoming vinaceous when injured; the odor strongly smells phenol
. It yellows in KOH
.
s of this mushroom are free from the stem, crowded, and pale grayish pink, turning brown in age. In addition, the stem is 6-15 cm long, 1-1.5 cm. thick and more or less equal, with an enlarged base (unlike typically ending in a small bulb like Agaricus pocillator
). Also, it is fairly smooth, white and bruising yellow, especially at the base, with a persistent ring, and the partial veil when still covering the gills developing brownish to yellowish droplets.
is slightly enlarged at the base; the surface is white, and smooth above and below the ring. The veil of the stipe is membranous
, thick, white, and forms a persistent ring with a smooth upper and lower surface. The base of the stipe is typically yellow when bruised and smells of phenol.
s are 4-6.0 x 3.5-4.5 µm, smooth, and elliptical; the spore print
is blackish-brown.
and northern in distribution. Generally, it is solitary, living in either small groups, or cespitose clusters on disturbed ground under conifers. In addition, unlike many other Agaricus species, it fruits from mid to late winter rather than during the late spring, summer and early fall.
Cap
The Agaricus placomyces has a cap that is 5-12 cm and varies from convex to broadly convex or nearly flat in age. In addition, the surface of the capPileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
is dry and covered with brownish fiber
Fiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
s and scales
Scale (zoology)
In most biological nomenclature, a scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration...
, especially over the center. Underneath, the cap can be whitish under normal environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
s, or pinkish in wet weather. Covered with fine, appressed greyish-brown scales and concentrated at the disc, the cap is thick, slowly becoming vinaceous when injured; the odor strongly smells phenol
Phenol
Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, phenic acid, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5OH. It is a white crystalline solid. The molecule consists of a phenyl , bonded to a hydroxyl group. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to many materials and useful compounds...
. It yellows in KOH
Potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula KOH, commonly called caustic potash.Along with sodium hydroxide , this colorless solid is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications. Most applications exploit its reactivity toward acids and its corrosive...
.
Lamellae
The gillGill
A gill is a respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extracts dissolved oxygen from water, afterward excreting carbon dioxide. The gills of some species such as hermit crabs have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are kept moist...
s of this mushroom are free from the stem, crowded, and pale grayish pink, turning brown in age. In addition, the stem is 6-15 cm long, 1-1.5 cm. thick and more or less equal, with an enlarged base (unlike typically ending in a small bulb like Agaricus pocillator
Agaricus pocillator
Agaricus pocillator, a woodland mushroom, is distributed through southeastern North America in ranges at least as far north as Illinois. It can be distinguished in the field by its dark center, its small, bulbous base, which stains yellow, and its relatively slight stature...
). Also, it is fairly smooth, white and bruising yellow, especially at the base, with a persistent ring, and the partial veil when still covering the gills developing brownish to yellowish droplets.
Stipe
At 8-15 cm long and 2-3.5 cm thick, the stipeStipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is slightly enlarged at the base; the surface is white, and smooth above and below the ring. The veil of the stipe is membranous
Biological membrane
A biological membrane or biomembrane is an enclosing or separatingmembrane that acts as a selective barrier, within or around a cell. It consists of a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that may constitute close to 50% of membrane content...
, thick, white, and forms a persistent ring with a smooth upper and lower surface. The base of the stipe is typically yellow when bruised and smells of phenol.
Spores
The sporeSpore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s are 4-6.0 x 3.5-4.5 µm, smooth, and elliptical; the spore print
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
is blackish-brown.
Edibility
For some people, Agaricus placomyces can be toxic. Like other phenolic-odored Agaricus species, it can cause gastrointestinal upsets. Other people, who are not affected by the toxicity, may find it edible. The mushroom's taste is not distinctive and somewhat unpleasant; the odor is usually unpleasant, but not necessarily distinctive. The flesh is white, and the base becomes yellow when bruised.Habitat
The Agaricus placomyces is saprobic. In addition, it grows gregariously under hardwoods and in mixed woods during summer and fall. It is generally found east of the Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
and northern in distribution. Generally, it is solitary, living in either small groups, or cespitose clusters on disturbed ground under conifers. In addition, unlike many other Agaricus species, it fruits from mid to late winter rather than during the late spring, summer and early fall.