Agaricus pocillator
Encyclopedia
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, bulb
ous base, which stains yellow
, and its relatively slight stature. It is very similar to Agaricus placomyces
, but is a slightly smaller mushroom
with a scalier cap
and a more northern range within the United States. Edibility is not certain for Agaricus pocillator, but several other yellow-staining Agaricus
species are poisonous. Hikers are often warned to avoid eating it when spotted.
s and in mixed woods throughout the southeast of North America
.
is 3–10 cm, convex to broadly convex or nearly flat in age, sometimes with an obscure, darker bump, and dry. The top is mainly whitish
to dingy, developing vaguely concentric brownish to grayish scales towards the center. Their gill
s are free from the stem
, close, and white
, becoming pink
ish, then brown
.
The stem
is 4–8 cm long, 0.5–1 cm thick, more or less equal, and contains a small bulb
ous base that bruises yellow. In addition, it has a ring that typically persists into maturity, and a partial veil when covering the gills not developing dark droplets.
The flesh
is white throughout and staining bright yellow in the base.
The taste
is not distinctive or somewhat unpleasant. In contrast, the odor
is often unpleasant (phenolic), but sometimes not distinctive.
The spore print
is brown
.
Chemical reactions involve combining the cap
and flesh
yellow with potassium hydroxide
(KOH).
The spore
s are 4.5-6 x 3-3.8 µm
and elliptical.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. It can be distinguished in the field by its dark center, its small, bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
ous base, which stains yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
, and its relatively slight stature. It is very similar to Agaricus placomyces
Agaricus placomyces
Agaricus placomyces, also known as Agaricus praeclaresquamosus or Agaricus meleagris, is a large mushroom that resides mainly in the woodlands.-Cap:...
, but is a slightly smaller mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
with a scalier cap
Cap
A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head and have no brim or only a visor. They are typically designed for warmth and, when including a visor, blocking sunlight from the eyes...
and a more northern range within the United States. Edibility is not certain for Agaricus pocillator, but several other yellow-staining Agaricus
Agaricus
Agaricus is a large and important genus of mushrooms containing both edible and poisonous species, with possibly over 300 members worldwide...
species are poisonous. Hikers are often warned to avoid eating it when spotted.
Ecology
They are saprobic, meaning that they survive by decomposing dead or decaying organic material. They often grow alone or gregariously under hardwoodHardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
s and in mixed woods throughout the southeast of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Description
Their 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 3–10 cm, convex to broadly convex or nearly flat in age, sometimes with an obscure, darker bump, and dry. The top is mainly whitish
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
to dingy, developing vaguely concentric brownish to grayish scales towards the center. Their gill
Gill
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 are free from the stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
, close, and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
, becoming pink
Pink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
ish, then brown
Brown
Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
.
The stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
is 4–8 cm long, 0.5–1 cm thick, more or less equal, and contains a small bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
ous base that bruises yellow. In addition, it has a ring that typically persists into maturity, and a partial veil when covering the gills not developing dark droplets.
The flesh
Flesh
In vertebrate animals, flesh is the colloquial for biological tissue which consists of skeletal muscles and fat as opposed to bones, viscera and integuments. Flesh may be used as food, in which case it is called meat....
is white throughout and staining bright yellow in the base.
The taste
Taste
Taste is one of the traditional five senses. It refers to the ability to detect the flavor of substances such as food, certain minerals, and poisons, etc....
is not distinctive or somewhat unpleasant. In contrast, the odor
Odor
An odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also commonly called scents, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...
is often unpleasant (phenolic), but sometimes not distinctive.
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 brown
Brown
Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
.
Chemical reactions involve combining the cap
Pileus (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...
and flesh
Flesh
In vertebrate animals, flesh is the colloquial for biological tissue which consists of skeletal muscles and fat as opposed to bones, viscera and integuments. Flesh may be used as food, in which case it is called meat....
yellow with potassium hydroxide
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...
(KOH).
The spore
Spore
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 4.5-6 x 3-3.8 µm
Micrometer
A micrometer , sometimes known as a micrometer screw gauge, is a device incorporating a calibrated screw used widely for precise measurement of small distances in mechanical engineering and machining as well as most mechanical trades, along with other metrological instruments such as dial, vernier,...
and elliptical.