Agaricus crocodilinus
| Agaricus crocodilinus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Agaricaceae |
| Genus: | Agaricus |
| Species: | A. crocodilinus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Agaricus crocodilinus Murrill
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
| Agaricus crocodilinus | |
|---|---|
| Mycological characteristics | |
| Gills on hymenium | |
| Cap is convex | |
| Hymenium is free | |
| Stipe has a ring | |
| Spore print is brown | |
| Edibility is edible | |
Agaricus crocodilinus, commonly known as the crocodile agaricus[1] or macro mushroom,[2] is a species of mushroom in the family Agaricaceae.
Taxonomy
Agaricus crocodilinus was first described by William Murrill in 1912. The specific epithet is in reference to its warty surface, reminiscent of a crocodile's skin.[3]
Description
The cap starts out round, before becoming broadly convex. It is 5–12 centimetres (2–4+1⁄2 in) across when young, but can reach 20–40 cm (8–15+1⁄2 in). The stipe is 6–20 cm (2+1⁄4–7+3⁄4 in) long and 2–4 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) wide, with a ring. The gills are free, starting out tannish and later becoming reddish to blackish brown.[1]
Similar species
It can sometimes be confused with Agaricus arvensis and the poisonous A. xanthodermus.[2]
Habitat and ecology
Agaricus crocodilinus often grows in prairies and pastures with a lot of grass.[1] It is saprophytic.[3]
Uses
Agaricus crocodilinus is considered edible and highly regarded,[1] but often contains maggots (even when young) and can be confused with at least one poisonous species.[2] It has also been known to accumulate the toxic chemical cadmium, even in non-polluted areas.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d Siegel, Noah; Schwartz, Christian (September 1, 2024). Mushrooms of Cascadia: A Comprehensive Guide to Fungi of the Pacific Northwest. Humboldt County, California: Backcountry Press. p. 86. ISBN 9781941624197.
- ^ a b c "Macro Mushroom". Wild Food UK. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
- ^ a b "Agaricus crocodilinus (MushroomExpert.Com)". www.mushroomexpert.com. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
- ^ Sácký, Jan; Chaloupecká, Anna; Šantrůček, Jiří; Kaňa, Antonín; Leonhardt, Tereza; Borovička, Jan; Kotrba, Pavel (2025-07-18). "Identification of two metallothioneins in Agaricus crocodilinus reveals gene duplication and domain expansion, a pattern conserved across fungal species". Biometals. doi:10.1007/s10534-025-00721-6. ISSN 1572-8773. PMID 40679729.