Horse Mushroom - Agaricus arvensis
Large, whitish cap up to 20 cm across, usually yellowing on the surface. There is a well-developed ring which splits into a cogwheel-like effect on the underside. It smells of aniseed. Spores are dark purple-brown and the flesh usually slowly stains yellow when cut or bruised.
There are several similar species - the toxic Yellow Stainer and some inedible related species quickly turn yellow when cut or bruised.
smell 
Photograph from top down and from side, and underneath a young specimen before opened fully
Grassland - roadsides, pastures, fields and parks, on nutrient-rich soil.
Late summer through autumn.
A widespread and fairly common species in Britain.
Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.
David Nicholls
Ratby Burroughs
24 November 2011
det. R Iliffe
David Nicholls
Ratby Burroughs
24 November 2011
det. R Iliffe
David Nicholls
Ratby Burroughs
17 November 2011
det. R Iliffe
David Nicholls
Ratby Burroughs
17 November 2011
det. R Iliffe
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Species profile
- Common names
- Horse Mushroom
- Species group:
- fungus
- Kingdom:
- Fungi
- Order:
- Agaricales
- Family:
- Agaricaceae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 11
- First record:
- 17/11/2011 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 19/11/2023 (Hollingworth, Jane)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
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