Species flashcards

Description

Cap: Can grow to 4-10-(15) cm tall, hemispherical to spreading, becomes patty-shaped; margin infolded; surface smooth or finely fibrous; color whitish-gray, yellowing in spots on injury.

Gills: Dense and narrow, grayish flesh-colored, purple-brown in old age, gills free, edges slightly fringed.

Stem: 4-15 cm long, 1-6 cm thick; stout, whitish, usually with a double ring, of which the upper one points upwards, the lower one downwards, slightly rust-colored.

Flesh: Very hard, color white, reddens when cut, bitter-almond smell, pleasant mushroom taste.

Spore: Dark brown; 5.5-6 x 4.5-5 µm; elliptical, smooth.

Occurrence: Also grows on roadsides, in parks, gardens, asphalt cracks. Produces fruiting bodies from May to October, common species in Hungary.

Edibility: Edible, tasty.

Confusion: Cannot be confused with other mushroom species due to its double ring, habitat and yellowing cap surface + reddening flesh.

Note: The Latin word bitorquis means double ring - referring to the double ring. Do not collect mushrooms along roadsides, busy places, as recent research shows they tend to bind heavy metals.

Species description: Lucien Quélet described it in 1883 (published 1884) under the name Psalliota bitorquis. The Italian mycologist Pier Andrea Saccardo (1845-1920) classified it in the Agaricus genus in 1887. The current scientific name has been in use since then.

Taxonomy

1. PhylumBasidiomycota
2. ClassAgaricomycetes
3. OrderAgaricales
4. FamilyAgaricaceae
5. GenusAgaricus

• Species: bitorquis
• Described by: (Quél.) Sacc.
• Hungarian name: ízletes csiperke
• Lifestyle: soil saprotroph
• Edibility: edible