Choice Edible
7 community sightings
Meadow Mushroom
Agaricus campestris
Also known as: Meadow Mushroom, Field Mushroom
Botanical Overview
Agaricus campestris is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely related to the cultivated button mushroom Agaricus bisporus. It is commonly known as the field mushroom or, in North America, meadow mushroom.
Foraging Safety · Hazard Comparison
Spot the Deadly Doppelgänger
Critical field marks separating Field Mushroom from toxic lookalike Death Cap.
Edible Target Specimen
Field Mushroom
Agaricus campestris
- Pink gills turning dark chocolate brown
- No volva (sac) at stem base
- Grows in grassy meadows
Toxic Lookalike Specimen
Death Cap
Amanita phalloides
Contains amatoxins that destroy liver and kidney cells; 1 cap is lethal.
- Pure white gills that never turn brown
- Large cup-like volva hidden in soil at base
- Pale greenish-yellow sheen on cap
| Field Mark | Field Mushroom (Safe) | Death Cap (Danger) |
|---|---|---|
| Gill Color | Pink in youth, maturing to rich dark brown | Permanently pure white at all stages of life |
| Stem Base (Volva) | Tapered stem, completely free of any cup or sack | Distinct membranous white egg-sack (volva) buried in soil |
| Spore Print | Dark chocolate brown | Pure white |
| Habitat | Open pastures, lawns, and grassy pastures | Deciduous woods, especially beneath mature oak trees |
Foraging Safety · Hazard Watch
Similar & Confusing Lookalikes
Never harvest or eat wild mushrooms based on photos alone. Always cross-check against these similar lookalikes:
Poisonous
yellow-staining mushroom
Agaricus xanthodermus
Lookalike
Amanita bisporigera
Amanita bisporigera
Choice Edible
Horse Mushroom
Agaricus arvensis
Lookalike
Agaricus bitorquis
Agaricus bitorquis
Classification
Scientific Taxonomy
Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Class Agaricomycetes
Order Agaricales
Family Agaricaceae
Genus Agaricus
Safety Notice: Never consume any wild mushroom based exclusively on photographs or app identification. Many deadly poisonous species (such as Amanita phalloides) closely mimic edible varieties. Always verify your specimen in person with a certified expert mycologist.
Spotted an inaccurate field mark or edibility issue?