Agaricus crocodilinus Murrill
(Macro Mushroom)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesAgaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom)
GenusAgaricus (true mushrooms)
FamilyAGARICACEAE (mushrooms, dapperlings and parasols, puffballs and bird’s-nests)
OrderAGARICALES (mushrooms and toadstools)
SubclassAGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
ClassAGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumAGARICOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom) :
1: Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom) IDENTIFICATION UNCERTAIN
21 Sep 2006 OSGR: SK15 53° 0’ N, 1° 50’ W Vice County: Staffs (VC 39) England
in short fine-leaved grass
Image 1: Cap margin and gills - close-upImage 2: Fruitbody - in situ - in sunshineImage 3: Fruitbody - lain down - in sunshineImage 4: Ring - close-upImage 5: Ring - underside - close-up
2: Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom) IDENTIFICATION UNCERTAIN
18 Sep 2006 OSGR: SK15 53° 10’ N, 1° 50’ W Vice County: Derby (VC 57) England
in grass
Image 1: Fruitbody - young - side view - black backgroundImage 2: Fruitbody - young - side view - pale backgroundImage 3: Ring - close-upImage 4: Stipe and ring - close-up
3: Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom)
25 Oct 2005 OSGR: SU46 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
3 young fruitbodies, in species-rich grassland . Photos: young mushroom, in situ, LS, developing ring, KOH test
Image 1: Fruitbody - young - cap surface - close-upImage 2: Fruitbody - young - in situ - side viewImage 3: Fruitbody - young - lain down - side viewImage 4: Fruitbody - young - LSImage 5: Fruitbody - young - ring - close-upImage 6: Ring - close-upImage 7: Cap + KOH -> Yellow - close-up - enlarged
4: Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom)
5 Oct 1998 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
in mown heathy grassland
Image 1: ButtonsImage 2: CapImage 3: Cap - LSImage 4: Cap - LS - showing gillImage 5: Cap - LS - showing gill (2)Image 6: Cap surfaceImage 7: Cap surface - close-upImage 8: Fruitbody (young) and buttonsImage 9: FruitbodyImage 10: Fruitbody - young - before the ring breaksImage 11: Fruitbody - young - LSImage 12: Fruitbody - young - LS (2)Image 13: Gills - close-upImage 14: Ring - before it breaks - undersideImage 15: Ring - undersideImage 16: Ring - underside - close-upImage 17: Ring - young, before breaking - from below (stem cut off)

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Pearson, A.A. 1946 New Records and Observations. III TBMS Vol 29 (4): 191-210, IN1-5.

Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 2 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom)

This is one of our largest mushrooms with a cap up to 30cm diameter. It is recognised by the large size, shaggy stem and large pendent ring with marginal scales on the underside. It is fairly common in grassland. The species is being cultivated industrially in a few countries. It was formerly known as Agaricus macrosporus.

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