Genus: Agaricus

Family: Agaricaceae

Agaricus augustus

Known Species in the County

Agaricus "brunneofibrillosus" – Bleeding Brown Agaricus
Agaricus "deardorffensis" – California Flat-Top Agaricus
Agaricus "incultorum" – Brown meadow Mushroom
Agaricus 'Tawny Gold'
Agaricus albolutescens – Amber-staining Agaricus
Agaricus arorae – Arora's Agaricus
Agaricus arvensis – The Horse Mushroom
Agaricus augustus – The Prince
Agaricus benesii – Bleeding White Agaricus
Agaricus bernardii – Salt-Loving Agaricus
Agaricus berryessae
Agaricus bisporus – Button Mushroom
Agaricus bitorquis – Torks
Agaricus californicus – California Agaricus
Agaricus campestris – Meadow Mushroom
Agaricus diminutivus – Diminutive Agaricus
Agaricus fissuratus
Agaricus fuscovelatus – Purple-veiled Agaricus
Agaricus hondensis – Felt-ringed Agaricus
Agaricus lilaceps – Giant Cypress Agaricus
Agaricus micromegathus – Anise Meadow Mushroom
Agaricus osecanus – Giant Horse Mushroom
Agaricus pattersoniae – Patterson's Agaricus
Agaricus perobscurus – The Princess
Agaricus semotus
Agaricus subrutilescens – Wine-Colored Agaricus
Agaricus summensis
Agaricus xanthodermus – Yellow Stainer

Approximately 28 species in Santa Cruz County.

Agaricus Records from Santa Cruz County:

Mycoportal
Mushroomobserver

Agaricus is a large and cosmopolitan genus, especially diverse in mediterranean and subtropical habitats around the world. With the exception of gastroid, sequestrate, and hypogeous species, members of the genus are easily recognized by their free gills, dark brown spores, and partial veil. All known species are saprobic, occurring in a wide variety of habitats, from urban and disturbed areas to deserts, alpine ecosystems, and deep forests. A handful of species are commercially cultivated and economically important.

The genus is probably more diverse in California than any other state in the Nation. Many of the Californian members of this genus show strong habitat preferences, with particularly distinct and interesting assemblages associated with Monterey Cypress and Coast Redwood. Probably somewhere near 100 species occur in California, but many remain undescribed.

Important identification characters include overall coloration, structure of the partial veil, texture of the surfaces, odor, as well as staining reactions when cut and in KOH.