Mushroom ID anyone

Effician

Found this growing under the raw fleece mulch around the cucumber plants in the polytunnel. the beds are full of homemade compost so there's always something popping up.

After a bit of searching we've narrowed it down to a scaley wood mushroom but obviously not 100% sure so any help would be much appreciated.

P.s it's 5" in diameter & smells very mushroomy

Keep_pedalling

I don’t think you are very far out it is certainly an Agaricus species. The scaley wood mushroom, Agaricus langei should stain red if you slice through the cap and stem. 

Effician

Thanks for that Keep_pedalling  , pics after cutting through stalk, i wouldn't class it as red but sort of browny pinky colour but getting darker over time .  Very tempted to cook this up at dinner as i'm pretty sure it's scaly wood & there seems very few others that match this ones characteristics.

Sapindus

I would lean towards A. langei as well.  Flesh should also redden when cut at the interface between flesh and gills and between flesh and surface.  My book doesn't mention any dangerous confusions but does reference A. silvaticus as being similar.

The difference I do notice is that my book shows A. langei with a darker centre to the cap, maybe even domed, and yours is uniform all the way across.  I'm wary of any mushrooms that have come in on compost as you don't have the clues of their original habitat. 

fatbelly

Even if there's only a small risk that it might not be what you think it is I wouldn't risk it.

I was thinking Horse mushroom, which is A Arvensis

Effician

A bit unsure as to when i should have made the cuts as trying it now cutting through the centre  3+ hrs after picking there's no staining at all. 

The shape of the cap i have found confusing too as there seems to be lots of variation, also mine seems to be on the larger side diameter wise , it's not easy this mushroom detective work.

The compost thing is also strange as i source all my own ingredients ( no compost bought in ) from shredded local trees & bushes as well as food waste etc , we're surrounded by mature trees inc copper beech ,limes, birch,sycamore & many others being situated close to an old churchyard but haven't  checked to see if there are mushrooms locally.

Anyhow i bit the bullet & fried up a few small pieces in butter , they taste like shop bought mushrooms & 25mins now with no ill effects so looking good. 

pseudodox

All mushrooms/fungi are edible (notwithstanding the taste) but some are only edible ONCE!  Unless you are 100% sure I would never take the risk of illness or worse.

twopenny

Do you have anyone locally ISH that leads fungi walks?
They don't do that unless they know their stuff.

Effician

Not really looked into foraging walks /guides but i ought to make the effort as it's intrigued me on & off for some years now , tinternet is helpful but not really a surefire way to identify with 100% certainty.

As you may gather i'm not dead yet after deciding to try a small amount , i was high 90's % sure it was ok & the only one similar that was a bit iffy was a dusky scaled mushroom though not common in England & more unpleasant rather than poisonous from what i can gather.

Thanks for advice & comments & it was helpful that others also thought similar to my original ID , i've now found another one growing in the same spot  ( wow they grow quick) so i'll try the bruise test as soon as i pick to see if the staining is more pronounced, still don't think it'll convince Mrs E to try any though.

Effician

Another pic of the new growth  plus lots more tiny ones to come. this looks more like portobello/ chestnut  /supermarket type mushrooms , agaricus bisporus.

ETA I guess the stalk offcuts & past their best supermarket mushrooms that end up in the compost bin would be the best explanation for these popping up .

Farway

Effician said:

ETA I guess the stalk offcuts & past their best supermarket mushrooms that end up in the compost bin would be the best explanation for these popping up .

Never done it, but apparently you can grow your own, in coffee grounds, from the mucky ends

Coffee grounds are not only free, but are also sterile if fresh